WHY HINDUS WEAR TILAK(BINDI) ON THE FOREHEAD?

By B.E.Sampath Kumar, Sri Ramachandrji Seva Trust, Kadapa.

Hinduism is not a religion.  It is Hindu Dharma, a  way of life.   Hindu dharma has many specialties.  It is known as Sanathana Dharma.  Sanathana means always existing,  eternal,  which cannot be destroyed by anything and everlasting.

Dharma means, the way of life with all Aachaaras or customs and rituals.  In each and every aachaara there will be a hidden scientific reason. All acharaas are followed for the mental and physical health;  long life;  prosperity and wealth; for strong family and social bondage.  Following the aacharaas as per our Dharma, give a fine personality, dharmic outlook, and vision. In India, everyone follows aachaaras for the above-mentioned psychological, physiological family relation, and social benefit viz.,  though we follow different religions we belong to one Country.  It is everyone’s right and duty to understand scientifically and logically the meaning of each and every aachaara and follow the same in our life systematically.

It is an established scientific fact that the entire human body emanates energy in the form of electromagnetic waves. The energy flow through Nadis totaling 72,000 in the human body and the said  Nadis distribute life force throughout the body.  These Nadis come together at the Ajna Chakra which is the point on the forehead above the nose and between the two eyebrows. The Ajna Chakra or the point between the eyebrows is the point that most Hindus consider the entry or exit of the soul. 

This point between the eyebrows is  very sensitive and exposed to the possibility of being attacked or harmed  for the following  reasons:

l.  Cruel looks of jealous people directed at this point create negative energy which can  cause great damage and imbalance to the mind and body.

2. When a person feels tension or agitated in a controversy with other people’s aggressive looks, a          great deal of body heat is generated from this point which can cause headache.

3. Good energy flows out from this point which we must have to protect.

For these reasons, our great Seers after intense study and research found that this point should be protected by applying cosmic energy-friendly substances such as Haldi, Chandan, Kumkum, Vibhoot-Ash, etc., as Tilak/Bindi, which is quite effective to cover this area and the person who applied it will remain calm and controlled with no undue energy loss.

Wearing  Tilak became one of the aachaaras,. It enhances our concentration and ability to make decisions. It keeps the head cool and avoids impure thoughts. It is necessary to wear Tilak in order to be a sacred human being.  It is recognized as a religious mark also.

The Tilak/Bindi cover the spot between eyebrows, which is the seat of memory and thinking.  It is known as the Ajna Chakra in the language of Yoga. In the olden days, Tilak was being applied with the thought that all their deeds in daily life be righteous and helpful to other beings. The Tilak thus becomes a blessing of the Lord and a protection against wrong tendencies and evil forces. The Tilak and Bindi cool the forehead and also prevents energy loss. Noticing Tilak on one’s forehead promotes dharmic feeling and fear of doing sins. The spiritual explanation is that the Tilak between the eyebrows invokes a feeling of sanctity in the wearer and also in the onlookers.  It is considered a religious mark and its shape and color vary according to one’s caste, religious sect and the deity one worships.

Each ingredient of tilak has its own significance:

Kumkum: – It represents the vital energy of life, strength and vigor. Sandal(Chandan): Is a symbol of inner peace, spiritual happiness and calmness. Turmeric:-Represents prosperity and wealth. Vibhuti:- Is a symbol of Godly devotion, determination and courage.

Lord Vishnu worshippers apply  Chandan tilak of the shape of “U” which represents divinity and protection from bad effects of excessive sun exposure. Lord Shiva worshippers wear Thripundra bhasma,  a tilak which represents the Trishul of Lord Shiv and is a reminder of the spiritual aims of life,  the truth that body and material things shall someday become ash, and that mukthi is a worthy goal. Devi(Shakthi):  worshippers wear  a red dot of kumkum which represents Shakti(strength)

Lord Ganapathy, Anjaneya, Surya, Skanda(Shanmukha or Subrahmanya)  are the most popular Gods and Devi Lakshmi, Devi Parvathi, Devi Saraswathi are the most Goddesses of worship.  Each of their ways of worship, rituals slightly differ and different types of Tilaks symbolically represent the same. But due to change in time, the Tilak represents our sampradaya to which we belong and whom we worship ie., Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, or some other God or Goddess.

Sindhoor is another term used for kumkum and it is worn in the partition of hair on the forehead by the woman, which says she is married and her husband is alive.   A widow in Hindu Dharma gives up kumkum and ornaments.

Using plastic reusable ‘stick Bindis’ is not very beneficial, even though it serves the purpose of decoration only.

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