Question for all Hindu's.. Please read..

United States
January 28, 2007 9:38pm CST
I was wondering about something last night. It concerns the bindi or tilak. If a woman is married and gets divorced from her husband does she take the bindi off? Since her husband is not dead but they are seperated from each other. Thanks in advance..
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4 responses
@umavarma1 (926)
• India
29 Jan 07
hi,if divorced bindi is not taken off.but if husband passes away bindi is removed. more information about bindi and history: Bindis are dots traditionally worn by women in India to decorate their faces. Bindi is arguably the most visually fascinating in all form of body decoration. Hindus wear a tilak (a red dot by women and an elongated dot by men) on their foreheads, between the two eyes. This point is known by various names such as Ajna chakra, Spiritual eye, Third eye and was said to be the major nerve in the human body, in ancient times. What is most astonishing about bindis besides the limited amount of literature that exists on it, is the attitude of people towards it. The bindi, normally a vermilion mark, is adored by the young and old. This mark has a religious significance and is a visible sign of a person as belonging to the Hindu religion. The bindi is of many colours although normally it is vermilion. It also does not have any standard shape and form and is applied differently by members of different sects and sub-sects. Tilaka means a mark. Sindhura which is also used to describe a Tilaka means red and Gandha which is also a term for Tilaka means pleasant odour. Hence, Tilaka normally connotes, a red mark with a pleasant odour. Some scholars see the red colour as a symbolism for blood. We are told that in ancient times, in Aryan society, a groom used to apply his blood on-his bride's forehead as a recognition of wedlock. The existing practice among Indian women of applying a round shaped red Tilaka called Bindiya or Kumkum could be a survival of this idea. No one knows exactly when the tradition of putting a bindi started, but since centuries it is seen on the foreheads of Hindu men and women. The bindi worn by the women is made of different substances, whereas the one put on by the men is of sandalwood paste, which is known for its cooling property. More then their cooling properties, bindis worn by women is also the reminder of their wedding vows, because a bindi is worn by Hindu married women to symbolize their marriage. Myth is that it protects them from the bad eye of people. However, today the religious significance of the bindi is largely forgotten and it is worn as a fashion accessory. In the market today we see bindis of different hues and shapes ranging from the simple to the most decorative. The price range depends on the texture, elaborate work and size. Bindis have become a fascination with many for their attractive features.
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Jan 07
thanks for that documentary on the bindis. i learnt a lot from it. some of the things mentioned weren't mentioned on my other discussion about the bindi. i have been fascinated by them since i was a child and have always wondered their meaning and name. thank you for giving me a complete answer on this.
@archiee (322)
• India
29 Jan 07
a women who is divorced does not take off her bindi but a widow do take off her red bindi and outs a black bindi.. instead of red bindi if its her wish not to keep her fore head bare..
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• United States
29 Jan 07
ok. thanks for letting me know.
@greengal (4286)
• United States
29 Jan 07
Hi Pebbles, a woman who is divorced doesn't take her bindi off..it's only a widow who does that.
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Jan 07
ok. thank you for helping me with that. i was curious since last night about that.
@usman400 (1587)
• Pakistan
29 Jan 07
I am not hindu but I think in such case this bindi or tilak remains at the forehead
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