IS WEARING A BINDHI AN ABOMINATION?

Bottu or Tilakam
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.


 "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).

(I Sam 16:7).
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).

Bindhi or tickli
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.
Tilakam
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:
Tilak
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).

Sandal wood powder tilak
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) ….

shaivanamam
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. 

Pamgana'mam
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.
mamgala sootram
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).

Mangalasutram in Christian marriages
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 13:16Revelation 13:17Revelation 14:9Revelation 14:11Revelation 15:2Revelation 16:2Revelation 19:20Revelation 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...

but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised” (Prov 31:30).
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).

for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus”(Gal 6:17).
Marks of Jesus”(Gal 6:17)
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.

II Cor 11:24-32
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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