Bindu
Encyclopedia
Bindu is a Sanskrit
term meaning "point" or "dot". The feminine case ending is bindi
which denotes a small ornamental, devotional and/or mystical dot that is cosmetically applied or affixed to the forehead in Hinduism
.
Bindu refers to an aspect of the anatomy of the 'subtle body
' composed of 'drops' (Tibetan: tikle; tigle; thigle) and 'winds' (Tibetan: rLung
): "the drops and winds are features of the human energy system and have varying degrees of subtlety."
In the Shakta
tantra school of philosophy, there is said to exist a Bindu chakra
, at the back of the head, in the part where Brahmin
s grow their small tuft of hair, although it is often not mentioned in traditional chakrologies. This centre is said to be where the Bindu fluid is produced, a fluid that can become either the nectar of immortality, or the poison of death. This Bindu fluid is often conflated with both male and female gamete
(s) (that is semen
or ova
) and amrita
in Tantrism. It is intimately connected to the Vishuddha
chakra, and awakening the Vishuddha chakra is held in the Tantric traditions to awaken the Bindu chakra.
. It is also described as "the sacred symbol of the cosmos in its unmanifested state" .
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
term meaning "point" or "dot". The feminine case ending is bindi
Bindi (decoration)
A bindi is a forehead decoration worn in South Asia . and Southeast Asia...
which denotes a small ornamental, devotional and/or mystical dot that is cosmetically applied or affixed to the forehead in Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
.
Bindu Chakra
Subtle body
A subtle body is one of a series of psycho-spiritual constituents of living beings, according to various esoteric, occult, and mystical teachings...
' composed of 'drops' (Tibetan: tikle; tigle; thigle) and 'winds' (Tibetan: rLung
Lung (Tibetan Buddhism)
Lung is a word that means wind or breath. It is a key concept in the Vajrayana traditions of Tibetan Buddhism and as such is part of the symbolic 'twilight language', used to non-conceptually point to a variety of meanings. Lung is a concept that's particularly important to understandings of the...
): "the drops and winds are features of the human energy system and have varying degrees of subtlety."
In the Shakta
Shaktism
Shaktism is a denomination of Hinduism that focuses worship upon Shakti or Devi – the Hindu Divine Mother – as the absolute, ultimate Godhead...
tantra school of philosophy, there is said to exist a Bindu chakra
Chakra
Chakra is a concept originating in Hindu texts, featured in tantric and yogic traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism. Its name derives from the Sanskrit word for "wheel" or "turning" .Chakra is a concept referring to wheel-like vortices...
, at the back of the head, in the part where Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
s grow their small tuft of hair, although it is often not mentioned in traditional chakrologies. This centre is said to be where the Bindu fluid is produced, a fluid that can become either the nectar of immortality, or the poison of death. This Bindu fluid is often conflated with both male and female gamete
Gamete
A gamete is a cell that fuses with another cell during fertilization in organisms that reproduce sexually...
(s) (that is semen
Semen
Semen is an organic fluid, also known as seminal fluid, that may contain spermatozoa. It is secreted by the gonads and other sexual organs of male or hermaphroditic animals and can fertilize female ova...
or ova
Ovum
An ovum is a haploid female reproductive cell or gamete. Both animals and embryophytes have ova. The term ovule is used for the young ovum of an animal, as well as the plant structure that carries the female gametophyte and egg cell and develops into a seed after fertilization...
) and amrita
Amrita
Amrit is a Sanskrit word that literally means "immortality", and is often referred to in texts as nectar. The word's earliest occurrence is in the Rigveda where it is one of several synonyms of soma, the drink which confers immortality upon the gods. It is related etymologically to the Greek...
in Tantrism. It is intimately connected to the Vishuddha
Vishuddha
Vishuddha also known as Vishuddhi, is the fifth primary chakra according to Hindu tradition.-Location:Vishuddha is positioned at the neck region near the spine, with its ksehtram or superficial activation point in the pit of the throat.-Appearance:This chakra is white with 16 purple or smoke...
chakra, and awakening the Vishuddha chakra is held in the Tantric traditions to awaken the Bindu chakra.
Philosophy
In metaphysical terms Bindu is held to be the point at which begins creation and the point at which the many becomes the unityHenosis
Henosis is the word for "oneness," "union," or "unity" in classical Greek, and is spelled identically in modern Greek where "Enosis" is particulary connected with the modern political "Unity" movement to unify Greece and Cyprus....
. It is also described as "the sacred symbol of the cosmos in its unmanifested state" .