Bindi

Comes from the Sanskrit word “bindu” for point or dot. Worn often in the shape of a dot on the forehead between the brows, it has a rich religious and cultural history and can be seen as a “third eye” warding off bad luck and forging a connection with God. Because of the many languages and dialects spoken throughout India, bindis are known by many names including kumkum, sindoor, teep, tikli, and bottu. Around 3000 BC, the rishi-muni (ancient seers of Hinduism) wrote the Vedas, describing the existence of seven main areas of concentrated energy called the chakras. Chakras run along the center of the body, and the sixth one (called the ajna chakra, the “brow chakra” or “third eye chakra”) occurs exactly where the bindi is placed.