Battle of the Bindi

The Deepavali of 2021 was a game changer.

Normally I prefer celebrating Deepavali with deepas or diyas (traditional earthenware oil lamps) instead of the riot of sound caused by  bursting of crackers. This year I openly supported the bursting of crackers in order to prove a point.

2021 will be remembered as a year when Sanatan Dharmic’s the world over, started to re-claim their cultural identity and heritage.

The flashpoint was the battle of the “Bindi”.

The Bindi is a red vermilion mark placed between the eyebrows. In the case of women, the shape is generally a circle whereas for men, the ‘tilak’ is typically a vermilion vertical mark extending from between the eyebrows to the top of the forehead.

A common misconception is that the ‘Bindi’ is only worn by Hindu women. This is further mis-interpreted by secularists and liberals and other vested-interest groups, as a sign of patriarchy, including Brahminical domination.

Spiritual Significance – Many millennia ago, the Rishis (seers of Vedic Bharat) discovered the existence of nodes where energy was concentrated, also referred to as ‘chakras’. There are seven main chakras that run vertically along the center of the body. Of these, the sixth one (called the ‘Ajna’ chakra in Sanskrit) is the ‘brow’ or ’third eye’ chakra. It is located exactly where the Bindi is placed.

Ajna translates as ’command ‘or ’perceive‘ in English and is considered the eye of intuition and intellect. According to the Vedas, when something is seen in the mind’s eye or in a dream, it is also seen by Ajna. Thus, the purpose of the Bindi is to enhance the powers of this chakra. This is more specifically done by facilitating one’s ability to access their inner wisdom or guru. This allows them to see the world and interpret things in a truthful and unbiased manner, as well as forsake their ego and rid their false labels.

Dharmic tradition holds that all people have a third inner eye. The two physical eyes are used to see the external world, while the third one focuses inward, towards God. As such, the red dot signifies piety, serving as a constant reminder to keep God at the center of one’s thoughts.

In metaphysics, Bindu is considered the dot or point at which creation begins and may become unity. It is also described as ’the sacred symbol of the cosmos in its unmanifested state ‘. The Bindu is the point around which the Mandala is created, representing the universe. Ajna (along with Bindu), is known as the third eye chakra and is linked to the Pineal Gland. The Pineal Gland is a light sensitive gland that produces the hormone Melatonin. This hormone regulates sleep and waking up. The key objective of Ajna is the balance between higher and lower selves and trusting inner guidance. Ajna’s inner aspect relates to the access of intuition. Mentally, Ajna deals with visual consciousness. Emotionally, Ajna deals with clarity on an intuitive level.

That should explain what a Bindi is and what it signifies, so on to the “Battle of the Bindi”.

Deepavali – the festival of lights, is a universal celebration across the dharmic footprint in Asia. It signifies Victory of Good over Evil. Shree Ramachandra returns to Ayodhya, along with his wife Seetha accompanied by his younger brother Lakshmana and faithful devotee Hanuman. This is after his voluntary exile of 14 years, during which period he also vanquished King Ravana of Lanka.

Over the past few years – to be specific the last decade, this festival that is a unifying factor for all Hindu’s (followers of Sanatan Dharma) has been reviled and at the receiving end of a concentrated mis-information campaign.

The Indian intellectual-class specially the ‘liberal’ ‘literate’ and ‘articulate’, are probably the least ’tolerant‘ section and are quite vocal about it in every form of media. Further the calculated “demonization” and targeting of Brahmins, has further created a section of apologists who

• will stand up for – descendants of the community that committed mass killings, rape and conversion – “as the sins of their forefathers should not be visited upon their descendants”,
• and at the same time deride & condemn the descendants of the Brahmins who “have”, “are” and “shall in future” be forced to continue paying for the real and fabricated sins of their ancestors.

Unfortunately, this lobby – a creation of the colonist education system has been carefully cultivated over the past few decades. Members of this lobby, occupy key influential positions in the media, bureaucracy, law and order, and actively conspire or can be manipulated into conspiring with the jihadi and evangelical proselytizing groups.

Since the 12^th century the sub-continent has been subject to barbaric, despotic rule first by the Arabic/Turkic invaders and later followed by European colonists. The genocide unleashed upon the Hindus by the Islamic invaders is reported to be the worst in human history, the estimates varying between 80 to 600 million (depending on who is the narrator) killed over the centuries of Islamic invasion and rule. The British followed soon after, destroyed the vibrant Dharmic education system and the Indian economy. Their imposed education system helped to create a race of mid-level management to rule on their behalf and with their meddling in the economy,  created abject poverty in arguably the wealthiest nation of the world.

But unlike any other nation or people in the world, the Hindus remained rooted with their civilizational past. The outcome is plain to see, as the belief system still survives and is vibrant throughout the land.

Were there no converts? Yes, there were but these conversions were mainly due to

• fear of life or
• greed for gold (material benefits)

The same is true even today, and all is justified in the name of their God.

The continued existence of Sanatan Dharma is intolerable to the more fundamentalist “practisoners” of the mono-theistic religions.

Why?

Sanatan Dharma is about self-realization, gives you the freedom to choose your own path to salvation. The requirement is your adherence to Dharma, that is – understanding and fulfilling your duties and obligations as an integral part of this Universe.

The mono-theistic religions believe in a single male omnipotent (all powerful) God (HE) while Sanatan Dharma (termed poly-theistic) focusses on the ‘Ultimate Being’ (Paramatma – God) who is not just omnipotent but omnipresent. The Paramatma (God) is present in everything, living & non-living, sentient & non-sentient, material & immaterial. Respect and duty towards all creation (universe) is an integral part of Sanatan Dharma. Hence the ultimate God can be sought and worshipped in whatever form that gives the best spiritual solace with strict adherence to Dharma.

Namaste, Namaskaram, or Namaskara – the greeting says it all, loosely translated as – I respect the God in you.

Compare this with the mono-theistic religions belief wherein God has created this Universe and placed Man as the superior being to exploit the resources to his benefit. All these resources are only to the benefit of those who follow a particular brand of belief. These faithful are given the divine right not only to exploit the nature’s resources but also subjugate and kill those who do not accept the ’faith’.

This “battle” between ’Conscription‘ and ’Choice‘ has not ended, it has just taken a new ’avatar’.

In India, the home of Sanatan Dharma, the Islamic invaders killed, raped and tortured the Hindus. Some converted out of fear for life or greed for gold. Notwithstanding such threats to life and sustenance most of the Hindus fought back and retained their faith and cultural identity.

Then came the Europeans (initially the Portuguese and French, subsequently followed by the British). These powers initially came as traders with guns and were closely followed by the Church. The local population was tricked, leading to the British landing in power and in their brief rule they destroyed the economy and became the richest nation in the world. They destroyed the Hindu education system, replaced it with their own system and created their own fabricated narrative that almost robbed the Indians of their own rich culture and history.  

The greatest danger today is still the narrative, kept alive as the guardians of history who should have been questioning the narrative and doing factual research of the past are its greatest supporters and have consolidated themselves in powerful positions in the Academic circles.

These powerful manipulative “liberal secularists” keep the narrative alive – for love of “gold” as well as safeguarding their positions of social superiority aided by fundamentalists and business interests both inside and outside the country.

One such Narrative is the ongoing one regarding Deepavali that rears up with clockwork precision a month before the festival:

• Deepavali is not a religious festival – it is actually a seasonal festival has been appropriated by the Hindus 
• Noise – animals are persecuted due to the sound of crackers, some famous page 3 personalities pet dogs are frightened and cannot sleep.
• Pollution is a terrible by product of fire-works that is destroying the environment – only during Deepavali, not during other celebrations as they are “ordained”
• Indian sweets (sugar) are bad for health – only during Deepavali but during other festivals they miraculously add only sweetness to life.
• Sweets made of milk are not environmentally friendly so go VEGAN, to save COWS as per PETA Advisory, of course turkeys, goats volunteer to be sacrificed and consumed on Abrahamic festivals and PETA is significantly silent during these times.

While this narrative is being fought on different platforms, the narrative controllers sensing a losing battle and created a new “soft” front to bolster their war for their brand of “secularism” against Hindu sentiments.

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• Depicting Deepavali as Jashn-e –Riwaaz – giving a pronounced Islamic flavor to a deeply religious Hindu festival
• Showing gloomy looking models in shades of green for a festival that is joyous and represented in vibrant colors
• Distinctly showing Hindu women without the Bindi at Deepavali functions.

The human spirit is indomitable and this blatant attempt at brain washing was taken to the “cleaners” by home-grown Dharmic warriors, Ms Shefali Vaidya was one of them.

She led the battle of the Bindi with the now legendary slogan “No Bindi No Business”. It was very interesting and heartening to see that universal support that this garnered from Hindus as well as non-Hindus in India and overseas.

This led to

• Retractions or change of some Ads
• Public apology
• Loss of revenue and loss on PL statement of some companies
• Zero effect of fightback by media and lobby apologists about selective FOE that fell on deaf years as their ploy of mis-representing and vilifying Sanatan Dharma was seen through.

Deepavali 2021 is a watershed year of sorts when the Hindus are changing their stance from

अतिथिदेवो भव:, Atithi Devo Bhavah – Guests are representative of God (Appeasement)

To

धर्मो रक्षति रक्षितः, Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitahah – those who protect Dharma are protected by Dharma (Assertiveness)

If this Universe ’as we know it‘ has to survive, human beings need to rediscover their Dharma, their duty and obligations to Nature and to all living creatures that inhabit it, to create a sustainable eco-system, not just exploit it.

Irrespective of our personal beliefs, we all need to become Dharmic warriors.

• No need to spread hatred,
• No need to initiate violence,
• No need to force your belief on those who do not share yours,
• No need to seek revenge for the past

but

•  A definite need to understand your Dharma and stand up for it, educate your family, friends, and children about Dharma.
• Respect other faiths as they respect yours, stand up and defend your rights without anger or hate, remember, and respect your ancestors who have fought and died for your right to believe.
• Seek justice for the past, by learning about the past, be impartial in recording history and do not knowingly commit the same crimes against the Universe and humanity.

लोकः समस्ताः सुखिनो भवन्तु , Lokah Samasthah Sukhino Bhavantu (may everyone, in the whole world, be happy)

Om