Pooja Article: Dhoop Lamp

red powder – Sindoor is a potent symbol of loyalty, devotion and commitment.

Placing the sindoor, signifies that the mind of the devotee must be

fully committed to the Lord. It is also a reminder to brighten one’s

personality with the beauty of virtues and good qualities. Most religious

Indians, especially married women wear a tilak or pottu on the forehead.

It is applied daily after the bath and on special occasions, before

or after ritualistic worship or visit to the temple. In many communities,

it is enjoined upon married women to sport a kum kum on their foreheads

at all times.

The orthodox put it on with due rituals. The tilak is applied on

saints and images of the Lord as a form of worship and in many parts

of North India as a respectful form of welcome, to honor guests or

when bidding farewell to a son or husband about to embark on an journey.

The tilak varies in color and form. The entire body emanates energy

in the form of electro-magnetic waves – the forehead and the subtle

spot between the eye brows especially so. That is why worry generates

heat and causes a headache. The tilak or potty cools the forehead,

protects us and prevents energy loss. Sometimes, the entire forehead

is covered with chandan or bhasma. Using plastic reusable ‘stick

bindis’ is not very beneficial, even though it serves the purpose

of decoration.

Abir (Black powder) – This is also in important part of

the Pooja custom and is used as for decorative purpose and is applied

as a ’tilak’ on the forehead of the Deity.

Haldi (Turmeric) – This is also an important part of the

Pooja or any festive ritual and is used as decorative item and is

primarily used for applying ’tilak’ on the forehead of the Deity.

Haldi is a very cleansing substance and represents the purifying

of the thoughts to adorn the mind