Wikipedia

Bindu (symbol)

This article is about a symbol in the Brahmic religions. For the dot painted on forehead, seeBindi (decoration).For other uses, seeBindu (disambiguation).

Bindu(Sanskrit:बिंदु) is aSanskritword meaning "point", "drop" or "dot".

Philosophy

edit

In Hindu metaphysics, Bindu is considered the point at which creation begins and may becomeunity.It is also described as "the sacred symbol of the cosmos in its unmanifested state".[1][2]Bindu is the point around which themandalais created, representing the Universe.[3]

Bindu is often merged with [seed] (orsperm) andova.In theYogachudamani UpanishadBindu is a duality, with a white Bindu representingshukla(pure) and a red Bindu representingmaharaj(mastery). The white Bindu resides in thebindu visargaand is related toShivaand theMoon,while the red Bindu resides in themuladharachakra and is related toShaktiand theSun.[4]Inyoga,the union of these two parts results in the ascension ofkundalinito thesahasrara.[5]

InTibetan BuddhismBindu is a component of thesubtle body,which is composed of drops (Tibetan: ཐིག་ལེthig le) and winds (Tibetan: རླུངrLung).[6]

Chakra

edit
See also:Amrita
Purple Bindu chakra (may also be red)

InTantra,Bindu (orBindu visarga— "falling of the drop" ) is a point at the back of the head whereBrahminsgrow theirtuft of hair.[7][8]This point is below thesahasrarachakraand above theajnachakra, and is represented by a crescent moon with a white drop. It represents the manifestation of creations such asconsciousness.[9]

The chakra is visualised as alotuswith 23 petals. Its symbol is the moon, which supports the growth of vegetation. Krishna said in theBhagavad GitaXV/13, "Becoming the nectarine moon I nourish all plants". Its divinity isShiva,who is portrayed with the crescent moon in his hair.[citation needed]

In Hatha yoga

edit
Early Bindu model of Hatha Yoga described in theHatha Yoga Pradipika.This model contradicts the laterKundalinimodel in the same text.[10]

InHatha yoga,Bindu visargais said to be the source of Bindu fluid, which contains a nectar (amrita) and a poison.[11]Bindu is identified with the semen, and it is controlled by techniques such asViparita KaraniandKhechari Mudra.[10]The fluid is released from theBindu visarga,and can be stored in thelalana chakraand purified in theVishuddhachakra. When the Vishuddha is inactive the fluid flows to themanipurachakra, where it is consumed (leading to physical decline). According to theHatha Yoga Pradipika,ahatha yogapractitioner can prolong their life by controlling the flow of the fluid.[12]Through practice ofKhecari mudra,a practitioner can manipulate the flow of the fluid from the lalana to the Vishuddha (where it is purified to amrita).[citation needed]

Practices

edit

Exercises for the Bindu Chakra are:[13]

There are also special Meditations on the Bindu Chakra.[14]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^Khanna 1979,p. 171.
  2. ^Ranganathananda 1991,p. 21.
  3. ^Shakya 2000,pp. 82–83.
  4. ^Saraswati 1996,p. 144.
  5. ^Kumar 2000,p. 94.
  6. ^http://studybuddhism.com/web/en/archives/e-books/unpublished_manuscripts/developing_balanced_sensitivity/pt5/sensitivity_17.htmlGrasping at Mind's Natural Functions for Security. Alexander Berzin
  7. ^Saraswati 1996,p. 21.
  8. ^Kumar 2000,pp. 8–9.
  9. ^Saraswati 1996,p. 143.
  10. ^abMallinson & Singleton 2017,pp. 32, 180–181.
  11. ^Saraswati, p.141-142
  12. ^Hatha Yoga Pradipika.
  13. ^Maheshwarananda 2004,Exercises for the Bindu Chakra.
  14. ^Maheshwarananda, Paramhans Swami (2004)."Meditation Practices for Bindu Chakra".The Hidden Power in Humans: Chakras and Kundalini.Ibera Verlag.ISBN3-85052-197-4.

Sources

edit

Further reading

edit
  • Rana, Deepak (2012).Yantra, Mantra and Tantrism: The Complete Guide.Neepradaka Press.
edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bindu_(symbol)&oldid=1255977868"