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The Pottu

Bindi (Pottu)


Bindi (in Hindi from the Sanskrit word "bindu", meaning "a drop, small particle, dot"), or a pottu/bottu (in Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam) is a forehead decoration worn in South Asia. Traditionally it is a bright dot of red color applied in the center of the forehead close to the eyebrows. It comes in many sizes and shapes (round dot, graceful frozen flame & other exotic forms). The very positioning of the pottu is significant; the area between the eyebrows (where the bindi is placed) is said to be the 6th chakra, Ajna, the seat of "concealed wisdom". According to followers of Hinduism, this chakra is the exit point for Kundalini energy. The bindi is said to retain energy and strengthen concentration. It is also said to protect against demons or bad luck. It is also believed that when someone jealous of you casts an evil eye on you, the bindi/pottu works as a repellent. The bindi also represents the third eye.
Traditionally the bindi/kumkum (kungumam/kunkumam in Tamil) is auspicious with the most common colour being red/maroon.

*It is believed that red kum kum lying between the eyebrows is to retain human energy.
The colour red is signifies Goddess Shakthi and love.

It is said that after head bath ladies should immediately put kumkum on their foreheads..girls should always put bindi or kumkum on their foreheads and should never roam around without kumkum as girls are called gruha lakshmi it would bless the house with wealth and prosperity.

In Hindu tradition unmarried girls will wear a black pottu and married women will wear a red/maroon pottu and sindoor in their forehead parting. Kumkum is made out of red turmeric whereas Sindoor is made of zinc oxide.






PS. My dear Hindu girls why are you'll so ashamed to wear a bindi/pottu on your forehead  I get it that we do dress up in modern attire. No one is telling you to wear a size 2,3,4, or 5 pottu even a size 6/7 will work just fine. Please don't be ashamed of your identity. No one is going to treat you differently just because you are  a Hindu. It's my humblest request that girls out there should never lose their identity in the process in becoming modern while the westerners are adopting our customs and traditions... I'm sorry if i hurt anyone....

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Comments

  1. very informative...may i requst you to share the veedosi...complete manthra..or reference...

    thanks in advance

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hey there,
    Nice blog
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  3. Very informative! Infact its not just girls but even guys can put on some sandal wood paste, teeka or Ash! I think it serves the same purpose.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Be proud to be born as Hindus, Morals and self esteem down the drain especially girls /women roaming without Bindi/Pottu. Without one , Hindu ladies are considered widows. Some arrogant young ladies refuse to abide Hinduism considering their fashion and lifestyle above all other matters for them. Om Shanti Om.

    ReplyDelete
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    Astrologer in Brooklyn

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