Beware Of That Bindi [msn Says]

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Beware of that Bindi!


For most Indian women, especially the married ones, wearing a dot on the forehead is a must. Now what most of them don’t know is, the bindi may contain substances that can cause serious health risks

New Delhi: The 'bindi', the ubiquitous mark on the forehead of Indian women is facing a problem in the distant United States where a manufacturer has been forced to withdraw a batch along with other cosmetics products from the market owing to its high lead content.

In the land of its birth, the bindi, however, continues to be manufactured unchecked as there is no agency to monitor the usage and harmful effects of spurious products.

"The cosmetics industry is not at all regulated in India. There's no apex body to control this in India", says Dr Deepak Vohra, a cosmetologist.

"What's worse is the fact that most of the branded products in the market do not carry the mandatory label of ingredients, colouring agent (chemicals used) and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) mark and no declaration whatsoever that that the products are manufactured from any carcinogenic or any harmful ingredients", Dr Vohra says.

According to experts, 'sindoor' or 'kumkum' readily available in market often contains high amount of lead, which heightens the risk of poisoning. Lead exposure can result in a wide range of biological effects, depending upon the level and duration of exposure.

Synthetic sindoor can cause serious dermatological disorders like irritation, skin toxicity, eczema, leucoderma. Long-term exposure to even low levels of lead can cause irreversible learning difficulties, mental retardation, and delayed neurological and physical development, doctors say.

Dear Sunkan,
I was wondering why I am allergic to kajal and sticking bindis!Lead added?Unbelievable! Which pottu is safe, then?Would like to know, really...
Love
Meena

Dear Sunkarn,

Thanks for such an information piece. Yes you are correct; there are no quality standards for cosmetics in India. Most of them are allergic. How to check which one is good. Please post some tips for selecting good products.


Ranjita.

Thanks for this information, Sunkan!

I use only Shingar, is that safe....
My children use the stickers whenever necessary..
clarify..

sriniketan

Originally Posted by meenakrishnan

Dear Sunkan,
I was wondering why I am allergic to kajal and sticking bindis!Lead added?Unbelievable! Which pottu is safe, then?Would like to know, really...
Love
Meena

dear meena,
so far i have not heard any complaints against shringar i think u can use that, though bindi is basically used for the perfect round shape and different chamkis on it, but when u think about ur health it is better to go for appropriate kumkumam which is done with turmeric and lime and sometime herbals flowers like thazhampoo is added it is better to find out and then use it, try some of the herbal shops for good ones..sunkan

thanks for the information Sunkan
I am using Shilpa bindi for last 30 yrs but had no problems till now

Dear Sunkan,
Thank you for the useful informations.Stickig bindis are easy to use.I don't go for the decorated ones.Will try kumkum...May be I'll look like Meena Mami !!
Love
Meena

Originally Posted by meenakrishnan

Dear Sunkan,
Thank you for the useful informations.Stickig bindis are easy to use.I don't go for the decorated ones.Will try kumkum...May be I'll look like Meena Mami !!
Love
Meena

Tika or Bindi applied between eyebrows on the forehead by Hindu women is believed to be a symbol of Parvati -- the Shakti(Power) and signifies female energy that can protect them and their spouse from every evil.

It is also believed that pressing the point between the eyebrows (Bhrumadhya) keeps away cold, cough headache, fatigue. Hence while applying Bindi, ladies would press Bhrumadhya to be physically fit. However, these days women use sticker bindis instead of kumkum powder that doesn’t give the above benefit.

Tilak that the hindu men apply on their forehead represents auspiciousness. It can be made of sandal paste (chandan), sacred ashes (Vibhuti) or red tumeric (kumkum). The devotees of Shiva apply sacred ashes on the forehead, the devotees of Vishnu apply sandal paste (Chandan), and the worshippers of Devi or Shakti apply Kumkum, a red tumeric powder.

In ancient India, Tilak was applied according to the occupation of the person; Brahman applied Chandan (sandal paste), Kshatriya Kumkum, Vaishya yellow kesar or turmeric and Shudra black bhasma, kasturi or charcoal powder Tilak.

The space between the two eyebrows is the Ajna Chakra, Sandal paste comes with great medicinal value, apart from acting as a cooling agent it is spiritually beneficial. Chandan reduces body heat when applied at the Bhrumadhya.

Lord Siva's third eye is located at his Brumadhya and it is believed when open it can destroy the whole universe. Similarly, when the third eye of the soul opens it is capable of destroying physical, mental and spiritual (Adhyatmika, Adhidaivika and Adhibhautika) sufferings.

Our endless sins alongwith our three Karmas Sanchita (accumulated works), Prarabdha (Productive works) Agami (current works) are destroyed after concentrating on Bhrumadhya after applying tilak. While applying Tilak and beginning to meditate, one should pray this exercise will help them come closer to the unknown, unseen truth.

this i got from google for you meena

Very nice explanation, Sunkan.
Thanks for sharing this one too..

sriniketan

dear sunkan,

thanks for posting the significance of tilak
as im working with other foreign nation people i feel can now give a better
explanation for my sindoor and tilak