It is known by many names: Bindhi, Pottu, Tilakam, and Tika...

It adorns the forehead.

It comes in many shapes - a round dot, a graceful frozen flame and other exotic adventurous forms.

Traditionally the bindhi or kumkum is auspicious with the most common colours being red or maroon.

The very positioning of the bindhi is significant. The area between the eyebrows is the seat of latent wisdom. This area is known as the "Agna" - the 6th chakra - meaning "command". It is said to control various levels of concentration attained through meditation. The central point of this area is the "Bindhu" wherein all experience is gathered in total concentration. Tantric tradition has it that during meditation, the kundalini - the latent energy that lies at the base of the spine is awakened and rises to the point of sahasrara (7th chakra) situated in the head or brain. The central point, the bindhu, becomes therefore a possible outlet for this potent energy.

It is believed that the red kumkum lies between the eyebrows to retain energy in the human body. The colour red is significant. Red represents Shakthi. The red colour, some believe, symbolizes the far more ancient practice of offering blood sacrifices to propitiate the Gods - particularly the Goddess Shakthi. In time, communities put an end to actual sacrifices and offered gifts instead, but the colour red remained. Red, it is believed, symbolizes love. The yellow of the turmeric has the power to influence the intellect. That is why the red kumkum and the yellow turmeric are placed side by side in temples or in any homes during a celebration. Both are offered to women at the time of leave-taking in certain parts of the country. This is to express goodwill and the hosts' prayers for the visitors' continued good fortune.

Kumkum attains special importance in temples dedicated to Shakthi, Lakshmi and in other Vaishnavite temples. Kumkum is of special significance of Fridays and special occasions. The little red kumkum has a long and ancient tradition. A silent watcher, the kumkum has traveled through our 5000-year-old culture. Our religious texts, scriptures, myths and epics mention the kumkum. Draupadi, in despair and disillusion, wiped the kumkum off her forehead on that dark day at Hastinapur. The practice of using kumkum on foreheads is mentioned in many ancient texts - the Puranas, Lalitha Sahasranamam, Soundarya Lahhari to name a few. In the old days, materials like chandhanam, aguru, kasturi, kumkum and sindhoor were used to make the tika. Women also ground saffron together with the kusumbha flower to create a paste to use on their foreheads. Kumkum and sindhoor are of two different materials. Kumkum is made of red turmeric. Sindhoor, worn on the centre parting of the hair, is used in certain parts of the country. Red in colour, it is made of zinc oxide.

Both sindhoor and kumkum are auspicious. Both stand for good fortune and signs of "Soubhagya" in the case of a married woman. Girls and women wear kumkum, only married women in specific parts of the country wear sindhoor. Men wore the mystic central vermilion dot as a mark of spiritual intelligence. The forehead dot known as the "urna" is found on the 2nd and 3rd century AD sculptures of Lord Buddha. Today, most men wear kumkum specifically during worship or religious ceremonies.

The kumkum, apart from being an auspicious adornment, also played the role of a silent communicator in the old days. Women who had lost their husbands did not wear kumkum. If there was a death in the family, women did not wear kumkum. Many married women would use turmeric as a substitute merely to indicate, not widowhood, but a state of mourning in the family. During menstruation, some women refrained from wearing kumkum. Today, the kumkum has been largely replaced by the "sticker-bindhi". Made of felt, with gum on one side, this is an ingenious easy-to-use substitute. The sticker-bindhi comes in all colours, all shapes and a variety of sizes. Some are truly exotic creations, using thin metal, in gold and silver colours, encrusted with glittering stones. The bindhi, today is a fashion statement.

Apparently, one that is sweeping the West, judging by the number of young performers sporting bindhis on music channels. The bindhi is an adornment that lights up your face and gives it a focal point. Enjoy its beauty and power. Its not to show your creative work of art on your forehead . So don't treat it lightly or carelessly. The bindhi carries with it a wealth of meaning and is an on-going link with a very ancient tradition and past.