Bindu

Bindu (बिन्दु) means “point” or “drop.” In Tantric philosophy and cosmology, it refers to the primordial point of concentrated energy from which the universe manifests — the seed of all creation.

Overview

Bindu is the dimensionless point of pure potentiality that precedes all manifestation. In the Shri Yantra, bindu is the central point around which all triangles are arranged — representing the union of Shiva (consciousness) and Shakti (power). In Nada Yoga, bindu is the point where nada (cosmic vibration) first arises from silence.

Philosophical Context

Bindu is central to Tantric cosmology. The Kularnava Tantra describes bindu as the first manifestation of the Absolute — the point where the unmanifest (avyakta) begins its descent into multiplicity. In the *Shri Vidya* tradition, bindu represents the state of parashakti (supreme power) before it differentiates into the dashamahavidyas (ten great wisdom goddesses). The Kundalini tradition associates bindu with the ajna chakra (third eye), where the ida and pingala nadis meet.

Interpretations

The Kashmir Shaiva tradition interprets bindu as chiti-shakti (the power of consciousness) in its primordial state. The Sri Vidya tradition distinguishes between karana-bindu (the causal bindu — the Absolute) and kriya-bindu (the active bindu — the point where creation begins). In meditation practice, the practitioner visualizes bindu at the ajna chakra or sahasrara as a focus for concentration. In Western esoteric traditions, bindu has been compared to the Pythagorean point and the Kabbalistic Tzimtzum.

Verification Notes

• Shri Yantra tradition in Shri Vidya literature.
• Kularnava Tantra and Kamakala Vilasa discuss bindu.
• Audited against Wikipedia and Tantric studies references (September 2026).