bindu

   The bindu (drop or dot) is an esoteric concept denoting the spaceless, timeless point that is the source of all manifestation. It also can denote the silent point that is the source of all sacred sound. Most YANTRAS, or ritual designs that denote par-ticular divinities, have a dot or bindu at their cen-ter. Sometimes the ritual or devotional dot on the forehead (see FACIAL MARKINGS) is considered to represent the bindu. In that form the bindu may be seen as the infinitely dense point of consciousness out of which the universe developed. The Sanskrit writing system uses a dot where the bindu can be taken to represent the individual soul.

   Further reading: From Bindu to Ojas (San Cristobal, New Mexico: Lama Foundation, 1970); Swami Pratya-gatmanananda Saraswati and Sir John Woodroffe, Sad-hana for Self-Realization: Mantras, Yantras and Tantras (Madras: Ganesh, 1963); Sir John Woodroffe, Introduc-tion to Tantra Shastra, 2d ed. (Madras: Ganesh, 1952).