Post Written by Payal Singh
The 'Bindi' is arguably the most visually fascinating of all forms of body decoration and 'Sindoor' is a sign of wedlock.
Origin of Bindi and Sindoor
Bindi: In ancient India, thin and tender leaves used to be cut into different shapes and pasted upon the forehead and these leafy bindis were also known by various name: 'Patrachhedya', 'Patralekha', 'Patrabhanga', 'Patramanjari'.
- In the ancient Aryan society, a bridegroom made a 'tilak' mark on the bride's forehead as a sign of wedlock. The present practice can be an extension of that tradition.
- Sandal paste and other natural stuffs were used for decoration not only on the forehead, but also on the chin, neck, palm, breast and in other parts of the body.
Sindoor: The history can be traced as back as 5000 years ago when hinduism started showing it's seeds into the culture and traditional outlook in India and around. Historians have also discovered that during the existence of Harappan civilization, it was applied along the partition of a woman's hair and it was the most prominent mark of her being married.
Bindi and Sindoor Are Mentioned in Hindu Epics
- Instance of practice of placing kumkum is mentioned in ancient texts like the Puranas, Lalita Sahasranamam, Soundarya Lahari etc.
- Radha, the companion of Sri Krishna transformed the Kumkum into a flame on her forehead.
- In Mahabharata, Draupadi wiped her sindoor in utter dismay and despair at the time of stripping off her saree in the Hastinapur Court.
- In Ramayana, Sita used to apply sindoor to please her husband, Lord Rama.
- As per traditional belief, Maa Parvati also applied sindoor and shared her sacred sentiments on marriage and sindoor with her women folks.
The origin of the bindi and sindoor can be found in the ancient time but has lots of significance in modern life.
- Bindi is worn by married and unmarried both women and no longer signifies marital status, age or religious background and has purely decorative in function available in a variety of colors and shapes, applicable according to the fashion and trend.
- Generally a married woman wears red bindi between two eyebrows which symbolizes the power of womanhood, love for her husband and 'shakti'.
- Sindoor is applied for the first time to a hindu woman during the marriage ceremony when the bridegroom himself adorns her with it during the ritual of 'Sindoor Dana' which is a transformation of her status from unmarried to married.
- The area between the eyebrows on the forehead is the spot of 'Ajna Chakra' (third eye) where one applies the bindi even it is considered as the point of wisdom and here,one finally loses sense of individuality and achieves self realization or higher level of spirituality.
- Every morning, a hindu woman takes bath and sits for prayer and she leaves the prayer room putting a mark on her forehead which reminds her activities and her purpose of life throughout the day and takes her towards her achievement and self realization by seeing others' mark on their foreheads.
Spiritual Significance of Sindoor
- In traditional Hindu society, wearing sindoor is considered must for a married hindu women as it is visible expression of their desire for their husbands' longevity.
- Traditionally, therefore a widow do not wear sindoor and red bindi, but allowed to wear black bindi which is considered as a symbol of sorrows ness after losing her husband.
- The social purpose was to ward of evil eye of the young unmarried girl by making her wearing a black bindi.
- In southern India, girls chooses to wear kumkum or a bindi, while in other parts of India, it is the priority of married women.
Socio Significance of Sindoor
- Sindoor signifies that a woman is under the protection of her husband. Hence, no one should make mistake to cast an evil eye on her.
- In Indian culture, both sindoor and kumkum are auspicious, stand for good fortune and signs of 'Soubhagya' in the case of married woman.
- Wearing kumkum with white sandalwood of a woman or Brahmin woman or bhakta of Sri Krishna signifies purity.
- After completion of all the puja or worship as blessing women take kumkum from god's feet and wear it as bindi on their forehead.
- In North India, it is customary for a husband to apply on his wife's forehead during Navratri and Sankranti.
- In West Bengal, there's a custom of 'Sindoor Khela' during Durga Puja on the day of Vijayadashami when all Hindu Bengali women smear each other's forehead with sindoor which is symbolize the power of womanhood and protecting their husbands and children from all evils.
- According to Hindu astrology, Mesha Rashi or the House of Aries is on the forehead. The Lord of Mesha is Mars and his color is red. This is why red sindoor or kumkum as bindi is applied on the forehead and sindoor is applied at the parting of hair.
- Both are sign of good fortune and female energy.
- A bindi is much more than a fashion statement or a sign of tradition and religion. This cultural practice actually has health benefits.
- Positioning of the bindi in between the eyebrows is significant. Experts say this area Ajna Chakra ( The 6th Chakra) meaning 'command' and controls various level of concentration attained to meditation and pranayam can activate the chakra's energy.
- In Chinese Acupressure Science, this point is considered to be a converging point of nerves and a massage is believed to relieve headaches.
- Ayurveda also believes messaging this spot relives stress and insomnia.
- Kumkum is hygroscopic in nature and greatly assists to remove excess water from one's head.
- Turmeric has anti bacterial properties.
- Chandan or sandalwood is renowned for it's 'cooling' properties.
- Sindoor contains mercury, turmeric and lime. Mercury acts as a catalyst that helps keeping brain active and alert which is a necessity for a newly married bride to take care of her new family.
- Mercury also helps in controlling blood pressure, activating sexual drive and libidinal energy. This is why unmarried or widow woman are forbidden from applying sindoor.
- As per the Hindu tradition newly married women must wear sindoor till the back but the scientific reason behind it is sindoor should be applied right upto pituitary gland where all our feelings are centered.
