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Bindu (Sanskrit: बिंदु, 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.^[1]

[edit] Bindu Chakra

Tibetan letter "A", with the iconographic representation of a rainbow thigle

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."^[2]

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 Brahmins 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.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Philosophy

In metaphysical terms Bindu is held to be the point at which begins creation and the point at which the unity becomes the many. It is also described as "the sacred symbol of the cosmos in its unmanifested state" ^[3].

[edit] Cross-cultural correlates

[edit] See also

• Hiranyagarbha
• Sri Chakra

[edit] Notes

1. ^ OEDILF
2. ^ http://www.berzinarchives.com/e-books/developing_balanced_sensitivity/sensitivity_17.html Grasping at Mind's Natural Functions for Security Alexander Berzin
3. ^ Khanna 1979: p.171

[edit] References

• Khanna, Madhu (1979). Yantra: The Tantric Symbol Of Cosmic Unity. Thames and Hudson.

[edit] External links

• Bindu