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SPECIAL FEATURE AUGUST 11, 2023 | The Indian Eye 14

TOWARDS BETTER LIVING

The Red Dot: An Emblem of the Divine

f you’re familiar with Indian culture,
you’ve likely heard a thing or two
Iabout the red dot. It is called a bin-
di in Hindi, and in my mother tongue,
Gujarati, a chandlo. I have a special
relationship with this red dot, one
that I only realized several years ago.
Ever since my childhood, I’ve
been blessed to grow up around an
Indian community. As a young girl, I
attended the local BAPS mandir ev-
ery weekend and had a large Indian
family friend group, which provided
me with ample occasions to wear
Indian attire. Back then, I remem-
ber seeing the chandlo simply as an
accessory to my Indian clothes — I
would find the best matching color
and stick it on my forehead. I didn’t
register then that this small dot could
have such rich meaning behind it.
I eventually came to learn that in
my Swaminarayan faith, the chandlo
is worn every day as a symbol of our
devotion, to Bhagwan Swaminarayan distinguishable traits that give away
and our Guru, Mahant Swami Ma- my ethnicity; simply put, I look dif-
haraj. In high school and college, the ferent because I AM different. Why
thought of wearing a chandlo every should I be ashamed of that? One of
day felt daunting. What would peo- the aspects of American culture that I
ple think? What would people say? I admire most is the concept of individ-
grappled with these qualms for a long ual self-expression. Walking through
time, but as I understood more about the city streets every morning, I pass
the chandlo, I realized just how silly by people expressing themselves
my hesitations were. through their clothing, hairstyles, tat-
In Hinduism, we believe toos, and so much more. It’s a beau-
in chakras, or focal points of energy tiful thing, to reside in a place where
in our bodies. Although these fields one can unabashedly be one’s whole
are spiritual and intangible, they are and authentic self. As a Hindu wom-
integrated with our physical bod- an, my chandlo is my self-proclaimed
ies. Of the chakras, the ajna chakra, identity marker, and I have no reason
known as ‘the third eye,’ rests be- to be shy about it.
tween our eyebrows. It is considered I now apply the chandlo every
to exist at the intersection of our con- day. While it used to embarrass me,
scious and subconscious mind. That applied with red kumkum (vermil- as sacred. My chandlo reminds me of I now view it with respect. It reminds
is, this chakra lies at the crossroads of lion) powder. The kumkum is made Lakshmi, the deity of prosperity and me of my Guru, who constantly
what we physically see and what we from a mixture of lime and turmeric, abundance: she teaches me to always guides me toward the right path. It
spiritually feel. The chandlo, then, producing that bright red color. The thank God for any good fortune I am reminds me of the divine feminine
is a bridge symbolizing the conver- color red holds spiritual significance blessed with. My chandlo reminds power within me. It reminds me of
gence of our existence in this physi- in Hinduism and is often used on aus- me of Parvati, the deity of love and who I am.
cal world with our connection to the picious occasions such as weddings. devotion: she motivates me to stay I come from a culture that vener-
divine realm. We Hindus believe that The red chandlo represents the di- nurturing and compassionate in each ates divine energy. I come from a her-
everyone and everything is a creation vine shakti, or energy, of the goddess of my thoughts and actions. To apply itage of women like Sita, the epitome
of God, and that this divine presence Durga, who symbolizes strength and a chandlo is to carry this feminine di- of a loyal companion, and Draupadi,
is residing within each of our souls. protection. vinity with me throughout my days. a warrior who steadfastly stood for
Hence, the chandlo is a reminder of In fact, the chandlo, to me, carries My most salient anxiety in apply- what was right. I get to feel inspired
the divine presence inside us who si- the power of numerous Hindu femi- ing the chandlo every day was always by these women and carry that rich
lently sees all, hears all, and guides all. nine deities. My chandlo reminds me the fear of what people would think. history with me every day, all thanks
Moreover, the chandlo reminds of Saraswati, the deity of knowledge But this was a foolish fear. By default, to this little red dot.
me of the power of femininity in my and wisdom: she inspires me to think I already appear different, because Roma Gujarathi,
Hindu culture. A chandlo is typically pure thoughts and to value education my skin and hair color are two very Westborough, MA Attorney

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