You know how it is seen as cultural appropriation when white, non-Native American people wear ‘sexy Pocahontas’ costumes for Halloween… Or intricate Native feather headpieces in a lingerie photo shoot? Yeah, that’s not cool.
Its about 2 inches long and runs down the middle of my forehead. im average weight and dont think its weight related. And that’s ok – there is no detailed philosophy behind bindi-wearing (that I’m aware of) like there is for tilakas. Bulging forehead vein Ive had it since i can remember, and while its not noticable most of the time, im VERY self conscious about it. Motivations for wearing a bindi range from sharing your social status as a married person to showing off the sparkling new forehead jewelry purchase from your local headshop. With bindis, the “ultimate purpose” gets a little hazy. Tilaka is an auspicious, spiritual symbol of your love & respect to the deity you worship, and a daily reminder to treat your body as God’s temple and, accordingly, use it in divine service. The ultimate purpose of a tilaka is to sanctify your body and wear a tilaka as a reminder of your surrender. Vaishnava sadhu with Sanskrit mantras across his face Tilaka’s Ultimate Purpose Their presence makes the world purified, and anywhere they remain they make that place as good as Vaikuntha. Persons who put tulasi beads on the neck, who mark twelve places of their body as Vishnu temples with Vishnu’s symbolic representations, and who have Vishnu tilaka on their forehead, are to be understood as the devotees of Lord Vishnu in this world. The Padma Purana refers to this and describes the effect of wearing a tilaka and neckbeads made with sacred tulasi and lotus seed beads: You can do it with water if you don’t want to have an actual marking on your forehead. There are tilakas for different parts of the body too, not just forehead. It’s a kind of a science! All in all, applying tilaka every morning is a super auspicious act of humility and surrender. For example, to differentiate between slightly different philosophies among Vaishnavas, followers of Vishnu, there are all these tilakas:Īnd among one tradition of Vaishnavism, Gaudiya Vaishnavism, there are following various tilakas: There are also variations in tilaka shape among the followers of the same deity. Sadhus giving their blessings with their raised palms