Indian women are known for their feminine grace which is greatly enhanced by their adornments. Dot on forehead (बिन्दुः), turmeric powder (कुंकुमः) in parting of hair, an auspicious ornamental thread (मङ्गलप्रतिसरः), toe rings & bangles are some parts of their identity & add to their beauty. Other than making women look beautiful, most of these adornments have some health benefits which keep them fit.
The word Bindi is derived from the Sanskrit word 'बिन्दुः', meaning a dot or a drop, & it also suggests the spiritual third eye of a person. The head is one of the five places Goddess Lakshmi resides on Earth. So, applying a dot (बिन्दुः) on the forehead shows the respect towards the Goddess, which ultimately brings prosperity to the family. When a girl is born in a family we say “Goddess Lakshmi arrived at your house” as, girls are considered as Goddesses & she is the one who brings prosperity to the family. During Vedic period, the dot on the forehead (बिन्दुः) used to apply on unmarried girls also. But unmarried girls supposed to apply the black colour dot which signifies & shows that the girl is still unmarried. This black colour dot on the unmarried girls is applied to ward off evil, we have seen many kids with a black dot on the forehead or on the bottom of the feet, it is because of this reason only. The married women should wear red colour dot (बिन्दुः) on the forehead which signifies that she is married & that dot on the forehead (बिन्दुः) of the married women is considered for the long life of her husband. The centre of forehead is considered as a high energy zone which needs to be concealed because this energy is what gives women ability to discriminate, analyse & understand the world. The red colour dot (बिन्दुः) on the forehead of women represents the honour, love, loyalty & prosperity.
Moreover, the red colour of the dot (बिन्दुः) & red turmeric power (कुंकुमः) in the parting of hair, symbolizes life & nature. In Hinduism, a red dot (बिन्दुः) & the red turmeric powder (कुंकुमः) in parting of hair symbolizes marital status. Therefore, a red dot (बिन्दुः) & the red turmeric power (कुंकुमः) in parting of hair are depiction of feminist, tradition & Hinduism. Marriage is a sacred ritual which marks the beginning of a new life for a bride & groom. There are many rituals performed during the marriage ceremonies & each ritual has its own importance. But, the most important custom of every Hindu wedding is applying the red turmeric powder (कुंकुमः) in parting of hair & wearing an auspicious ornamental thread (मङ्गलप्रतिसरः). Here, the groom puts red turmeric powder (कुंकुमः) on his bride’s hair partition, thus symbolizing her marital status. Putting red turmeric powder (कुंकुमः) in parting of hair is not just a ritual, but signifies a long life for the husband & bringing prosperity to the husband’s family. The modern society perceives the red turmeric powder (कुंकुमः) as a discrimination line between the married & the unmarried women but, this is not the case as this practice is much deep-rooted. The ritual has been performed for over 5000 years now. Its use has been well documented in Harappan excavations. A dot (बिन्दुः) on the forehead & the red turmeric powder (कुंकुमः) in the parting of hair of women also finds a mention in the Puranas.
According to the Hindu Scriptures, a woman has to adorn the red turmeric powder (कुंकुमः) in parting of hair till the time her husband is alive. Even Goddess Parvati (wife of Lord Shiva) & Goddess Sita (wife of Lord Rama), use to put the red turmeric powder (कुंकुमः) on their hair partition. It is believed that Goddess Parvati not only protects the husbands of all the married women who put the red turmeric powder (कुंकुमः) in parting of hair, but also wards off any hidden evil. According to the Hindu astrology, applying the red turmeric powder (कुंकुमः) on the hair partition is considered to be auspicious as it brings good fortune (सौभाग्यम्). So, the next time your wife applies it, she is indirectly praying for your long & healthy life. It is stated that the red colour symbolizes power.
The application of the red turmeric powder (कुंकुमः) in parting of hair is not just a ritual, but a practice which stimulates good health. On one hand, it serves as a longevity prayer for the husband, but on the other, it keeps a balance on the woman's physical well-being. The custom of filling the red turmeric powder (कुंकुमः) in the hair parting is followed only after marriage because as soon as tying the marriage knot, the free-spirited girl suddenly gets transformed into a responsible wife & a daughter-in-law who has to take care of everybody present in her new home. Thus, under such responsibilities she sometimes gets pressurized. The red turmeric powder (कुंकुमः) helps in cooling her down, bringing to her the mental peace. Hence, the red turmeric powder (कुंकुमः) works as a therapeutic medicine to deal with the pressures of new life by keeping the mind calm, composed & controlled. The red turmeric powder (कुंकुमः) enhances the feminine grace to a large extent lending a divine beauty. Red is the colour of love & passion; hence it is applied by Indian women to win the heart of their husbands. The red turmeric powder (कुंकुमः) signifies that the women with it is married, under the protection of her husband so, no one should make mistake to cast an evil eye on her. Red is the colour of fire, blood & strength. It indicates that tender looking Hindu women is the form of शक्तिः (the Goddess of Strength) for the total destruction of wickedness. She can become the spark of fire from a soft flower for her own protection.
Methods & styles of applying the red turmeric powder (कुंकुमः) in parting of hair vary from personal choice to regional customs. Many new brides fill the whole hair line with the red turmeric powder (कुंकुमः) in parting of hair, while other married women may just apply a red spot at the end of the hair line & forehead. Recently, a triangle shaped red turmeric powder (कुंकुमः) in parting of hair pointing towards the nose, with a diamond dot (बिन्दुः) on the forehead for fashion, is being worn by younger women which is not the authentic part of Hindu ritual. Now a days many women uses different kinds of the dots (बिन्दुः) & the red turmeric powder (कुंकुमः) in parting of hair from different brands but, these different dots (बिन्दुः) & the red turmeric powder (कुंकुमः) in parting of hair are chemical based which in turn gives negative effect to the body. Thus, it is suggested to use the natural things like red turmeric powder (कुंकुमः) which transmits many positive benefits.
The red turmeric powder (कुंकुमः) in parting of hair is significant for the married woman as she is full of colour. After the death of husband, it is necessary to awaken a sense of detachment in the woman. Thus, she has to sacrifice the ornaments that are suggestive of state of a married woman. So, this conduct assists a widow to proceed on the path of the Self-realization & she adopts plain white dress & removes all colour from her face & body including the bright red the red turmeric powder (कुंकुमः) on the forehead & in parting of hair. Hence, widows do not wear the dot (बिन्दुः) or the red turmeric powder (कुंकुमः) in parting of hair, signifying that their husband is no longer alive.
According to the Scriptures, the red turmeric powder (कुंकुमः) in parting of hair should be applied right up to the pituitary gland where all our feelings are cantered. It is interesting to note that that the application of the red turmeric powder (कुंकुमः) in parting of hair by married women carries physiological significance too. Due to its essential properties, besides controlling blood pressure it also activates sexual instinct. This is the most important reason which explains why the red turmeric powder (कुंकुमः) in parting of hair is prohibited for the unmarried & widows.
Scientific reasons for applying a dot (बिन्दुः) on the forehead-
1. Applying a dot (बिन्दुः) on the forehead, boosts the concentration level.
2. The point on the forehead where the dot (बिन्दुः) is applied, helps in relieving stress & headache.
3. It helps in imparting calm & steady mind.
4. It helps to control blood pressure.
5. It imparts auspiciousness & good fortune.
6. It attracts more positive energies (सात्त्विकः शक्तिः).
7. It increases the Vital forces (प्राणः).
8. The red colour destroys the negative energies due to the Absolute Fire Element (अग्निः तत्त्वम्)
emitted by the colour particles.
9. A daily quick massage on this area by gently pressing, allows electromagnetic waves to pass through & restore positive frequency.
10. Moreover, it acts as an acupressure point which is also an immune booster & potent point & when one regularly applies this dot (बिन्दुः) on the forehead, the immunity level never comes down easily.
Scientific reason of applying the red turmeric powder (कुंकुमः) in parting of hair -
1. The subtle body of the woman is protected from negative energies after applying the red turmeric powder (कुंकुमः) in parting of hair.
2. It increases the life of the husband.
3. It eases stress & tension.
4. It keeps the brain active & alert.
5. It improves concentration.
6. It brings spiritual power.
7. It attracts the cosmic & vital energies & grants the couple with prosperity & good health.
8. The red turmeric powder (कुंकुमः) in parting of hair acts as a channel between the spiritual & mental well-being of the women.
9. The red turmeric powder (कुंकुमः) in parting of hair cools down the body & makes her feel relaxed.
10. The red turmeric powder (कुंकुमः) in parting of hair is a symbol of sacredness, auspiciousness & the joy that the woman symbolizes & brings with her in the new house, when she gets married.
11. By applying the red turmeric powder (कुंकुमः) in parting of hair, reduces the upcoming life problems & chaos.
12. It balances the blood pressure in the body & activates the sexual instinct.
Thus, there are many benefits of applying the dot (बिन्दुः) on the forehead & red turmeric powder (कुंकुमः) in parting of hair to the married women. These practices are totally connected to the science & imparts many health benefits to the women.
श्रावणः शुक्लपक्षे १५, २०७६