thumb|Kumkuma powder from Mysore, India.
Kumkuma is a powder used for social and religious markings in India. It is made from turmeric or any other local materials. The turmeric is dried and powdered with a bit of slaked lime, which turns the rich yellow powder into a red color.
In India, it is known by many names including kuṅkumam (Sanskrit कुङ्कुमम्, Tamil குங்குமம், and Malayalam കുങ്കുമം), kumkuma (Kannada ಕುಂಕುಮ,Telugu కుంకుమ), kukum (Konkani कुकूम्), kunku (Marathi कुंकू), kanku (Gujarati કંકુ), kumkum (Bengali কুমকুম and Hindi कुमकुम).
Application
thumb|220px|Traditional silver container for Sindoor/Kumkuma
Kumkuma is most often applied by Indians to the forehead. The reason involves the ancient Indian belief that "the human body is divided into seven vortices of energy, called chakras, beginning at the base of the spine and ending at the top of the head. The sixth chakra, also known as the third eye, is centered in the forehead directly between the eyebrows and is believed to be the channel through which humankind opens spiritually to the Divine".
Thus, the kumkuma is placed where Indians believe to be the most important spot for receptivity to be enhanced.
Common forehead marks
- Shaivites: Followers of Shiva usually apply three white horizontal lines (made from vibhuti) with a dot of kumkuma at the center. This is also known as tripundra.
- Chandrakor: Many Maharashtrians – men, women, and children alike – wear it traditionally in the shape of crescent moon.
thumb|Kungumam (Kumkuma) sold near Hindu temple in Srirangam, Tamil Nadu, India
Significance
In the Vaishnava tradition, the "white lines represent the footprint of their God, while the red refers to his consort, Lakshmi".
See also
- Haldi Kumkum
- Bindi (decoration)
- Tilaka
- List of materials used in Hinduism
- :Category:Hindu iconography
References
External links
- Kumkum 2008
- Lead in Spices, Herbal Remedies, and Ceremonial Powders Sampled from Home Investigations for Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels — North Carolina, 2011–2018