Sindura

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Sindura (Skt. sindūra; Tib. ལི་ཁྲི།, Wyl. li khri ; sindoor in Hindustani) or vermilion is a brilliant red pigment made from the powdered mineral, mercury sulfide (cinnabar), the ore which contains mercury.

The best kind is found underwater in zones not exposed to sunlight. It can be found in caves. This red pigment is one of the substances used in tantric rituals. Red is the colour of magnetizing.[1]

Cinnabar can be found on all continents, and in particular it is said to be present in all the sacred places such as twenty-four sacred places, or the thirty-two hallowed lands where the tantric teachings are flourishing, whereas in the places where Dzogchen is flourishing one would find crystal. Sindura extracted from these sacred places is said to be especially blessed.[2]

Notes

  1. Reference needed.
  2. Reference needed.

Further Reading

  • Chögyam Trungpa, The Heart of the Buddha, page 190.
  • Robert Beer, The Handbook of Tibetan Buddhist Symbols, pages 24-25.
  • T.&M. Blau, Buddhist Symbols, page 157.