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| Bottu or Tilakam normally placed on the forehead |
KING of Jeshurun is prompted to
present this article to its readers as there was a discussion on facebook
regarding the question by Christians wearing bindhi’s. The author believed to draw a clear implication of terminology
while using the sensitive issues...Bindi is an artificial make-up which has no
religious form of Idol worship attachment. It is
"Bottu" or "Tilakam" which has religious attachment of Idol
Worship. Christians need to draw a clear distinguishing terminology in this regard.
Our God forbids every form of idol worship and its adherence.
Because as we are placing
legalism in the church and becoming hindrance to millions of Non-Christians in India
and around the world to come to Christ."God sees at heart not at outward
appearance”.
The author distinguishes over bindhi, bottu and tilakam. Bindhi or tickli is an artificial fashion make-up which has no idol worship connection.
The author distinguishes over bindhi, bottu and tilakam. Bindhi or tickli is an artificial fashion make-up which has no idol worship connection.
"And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of
your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind,
for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the
thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he
will reject you forever”( 1 Chronicles 28:9).
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| But the LORD looks at the heart"(I Sam 16:7). |
“But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his
appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at
the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD
looks at the heart"(I Sam 16:7).
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| Bindhi or tickli is made without religious connection |
We are admonished by God not to
worship Idols and eat the things which are offered to them. But do we think
that all existing fruits and livestock are defiled things because some of it is offered
to Idols. No there are many things available in the market which has no
religious attachment or which has not been offered to Idols..We can go to a
fruit market and buy fruits boldly because we know that there are some things
not offered to Idols.
In the similar way bindhi is
artificial make-up but “Kum-Kum” “Tilakam” or “Bottu” which has been offered to
Idols is a sin or abomination to the Lord. Another truth if the same Bindhi is
offered before Idols it is also an abomination to wear by the Christian woman.To sum up whether it is Bindhi, Bottu or tilakam which is not offered to idols or placed before Idols can be worn by many people in India even by Christians.What matters is motive behind wearing it.Some people simply wear it without any religious connection as a cultural phenomenon. Females wearing Bindhi, Kumkum, Tilak signifies that a person is married.Men wears it when there is a Idol worship.So context to be understood.
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| Tilakam or Kumkm |
“Kum-Kum” “Tilakam” “Bottu” or
“Bindhi” which have Idol marks like Shiva bottu, Vaishnava bottu, Adishakti
tilakam or Bindhi’s with those religious marks should be abhorred but non
conformity of idol indication of bindhi’s can be worn as it is considered to be
a culture of India. If the true Idol‘s in the hearts of the people are
vandalized the outer Idols will itself be removed by the believer’s in Christ….
History of Bottu:
The concept of bottu is not an
important aspect of Vedas or Dhama Sa’stra’s.The concept of Bottu has been
brought after the Post-Vedic tantric period into the mainstream of Indian
Religion and culture.
The various varieties of Bottu’s:
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| Nudtipai Tilakamu |
1.Nudtipai Tilakamu: is known to
be a mark or beauty spot put on the forehead or between the eye-brows with black scarlet or gold color.
It is a sign of good omen, happiness, prosperity, good fortune, welfare and
overall it is treated as mangalam or Shubam (auspiciousness).
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| Kandanam |
2.Kandanam: Known as Sandalwood
powder put on forehead and under the chin of woman also stands as a sign of
good omen, happiness, prosperity, good fortune, welfare and overall it is
treated as mangalam or Shubam (auspiciousness).(The author had this experience
on various occasions during his childhood while performing Arya Samaj yagnas
with his uncle and other pooja’s) ….
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| Addanamam |
3.Vibhoodhi: is known as ash or
calcium salts. Shivites draw 3 Vibhoodhi lines horizontally on the forehead (adda
na’malu). Hindu mythologies say that
the lord Shiva loves the burial ground (Smashanam) where the ash is available
of plentiful. Shiva used to apply the ashes all over the body. This powder has
cooling effect.Scientificaly the vibhoodhi has is nothing but anhydrous calcium
chloride or calcium sulfate. The ash comprises of the burnt wood ash mixed with
calcium salts of the burnt bones of the corpses.
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| Pamgana'mam |
4.Pamgana'mam: Vaishnavites wear 3
perpendicular na'ma's vertically (also Vrutta'ka'ra tripumdam). Vishnavites also pray to Vishnu saying
"Please rescue us from the bad elements" while applying the niluvu
na'ma'lu. The pamgana'ma'lu is well
known na'madha'rana in Andhra.
5.Ta'li bottu: is another bottu
(mamgala sootram) that Andhra married
women adore.Even Christian believers perform this activity in churches without doing any Idol worship.In such case can we blame all the Christians for wearing Tali bottu to be unbelievers or infidels.In Indian society Tali bottu is considered to be a license for a single woman becoming a married woman.
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| Hindu Ta'li bottu is tied to bride during marriage |
The only thing where Bible
admonishes the children of God not to put Bottu or tattoos is ……
''Do not cut your bodies
for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD” (Lev 19:28).
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| Christian Tali Bottu or Mangalasutram in Christian marriages |
Some of the Commentaries on Lev 19:28 goes like this….
Bible: Nor print any marks upon
you - It was a very ancient and a very general custom to carry marks on the
body in honor of the object of their worship. All the castes of the Hindus bear
on their foreheads or elsewhere what are called the sectarian marks, which
distinguish them, not only in a civil but also in a religious point of view,
from each other. Most of the barbarous nations lately discovered have their
faces, arms, breasts, etc., curiously carved or tattooed, probably for
superstitious purposes. Ancient writers abound with accounts of marks made on
the face, arms, etc., in honor of different idols; and to this the inspired
penman alludes, Revelation
13:16, Revelation 13:17; Revelation 14:9, Revelation 14:11; Revelation 15:2; Revelation 16:2; Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:4,
where false worshippers are represented as receiving in their hands and in
their forehead the marks of the beast. These were called στιγματα stigmata
among the Greeks, and to these St. Paul refers when he says, I bear about in my
body the Marks (stigmata) of the Lord Jesus; Galatians 6:17. I have seen
several cases where persons have got the figure of the cross, the Virgin Mary,
etc., made on their arms, breasts, etc., the skin being first punctured, and
then a blue coloring matter rubbed in, which is never afterward effaced. All
these were done for superstitious purposes, and to such things probably the
prohibition in this verse refers. Calmet, on this verse, gives several
examples. See also Mariner's Tonga Islands, vol. i. p. 311-313.
nor print any marks upon you;
Aben Ezra observes, there are some that say this is in connection with the
preceding clause, for there were who marked their bodies with a known figure,
by burning, for the dead; and he adds, and there are to this day such, who are
marked in their youth in their faces, that they may be known; these prints or
marks were made with ink or black lead, or, however, the incisions in the flesh
were filled up therewith; but this was usually done as an idolatrous practice;
so says Ben Gersom, this was the custom of the Gentiles in ancient times, to
imprint upon themselves the mark of an idol, to show that they were his
servants; and the law cautions from doing this, as he adds, to the exalted name
(the name of God): in the Misnah it is said (h), a man is not guilty unless he
writes the name, as it is said, Leviticus 19:28; which the
Talmudists (i) and the commentators (k) interpret of the name of an idol, and
not of God:
I am the Lord; who only is to be
acknowledged as such, obeyed and served, and not any strange god, whose mark
should be imprinted on them.
nor print any marks upon you-by
tattooing, imprinting figures of flowers, leaves, stars, and other fanciful
devices on various parts of their person. The impression was made sometimes by
means of a hot iron, sometimes by ink or paint, as is done by the Arab females
of the present day and the different castes of the Hindus. It is probable that
a strong propensity to adopt such marks in honor of some idol gave occasion to
the prohibition in this verse; and they were wisely forbidden, for they were
signs of apostasy; and, when once made, they were insuperable obstacles to a
return. (See allusions to the practice, Isa 44:5; Re 13:17; 14:1).
The Conclusion:
Moreover the Bible says that how a Christian
woman should adore herself….in the following verses...
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| Prov 31:30 |
“Charm is deceptive, and beauty
is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised” (Prov 31:30).
“Wives, in the same way be
submissive to your husband’s so that, if any of them do not believe the word,
they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when
they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not
come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold
jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self,
the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in
God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their
hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their
own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master.
You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear” (I
Pet 3:3).
“I also want women to dress
modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls
or expensive clothes. but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to
worship God. A woman should learn in quietness and full submission.”(I Tim 2:9-11).
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Marks of Jesus”(Gal 6:17)
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Jesus died and resurrected and
still have the marks of wounded and nailed hands,feet and body to show how much
He loved us and suffered for the salvation of entire humanity. Whether a
believer wears a bindhi, symbol of cross or other religious tattoos on their
bodies or not, it is always important to spiritually wear and bear the marks of
Jesus in our day to day life of faith.
“Finally, let no one
cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus”(Gal 6:17).
This are the marks we need to wear and bear for Christ.
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| Paul prisoned and shipwrecked for bearing the marks of Christ....II Cor 11:24-32 |
“Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus
one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I
was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been
constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from
bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger
in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from
false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without
sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have
been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of
my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who
is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my
weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised
forever, knows that I am not lying. In Damascus the governor under King
Aretas had the city of the Damascus guarded in order to arrest me. But I
was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands”(II
Cor 11:24-32).
Selected Bibliography:
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