1.20. Use of Sindūra (Vermilion)

Sindūra (Vermilion) is a red colour cosmetic in powder form. It is prepared from Cinnabar or red lead. Girisindūra is another variety of Sindūra, which is a kind of red arsenic found inside the rocks of big mountains. Applying Sindūra on the parting of hair by women was a sign of their marital status. A woman desirous of the long life of her husband usually wore Sindūra on the forehead. In Naiṣadhīyacarita^[1], we come across the queens attending Damayanti’s marriage, bowing respectfully on the lac dyed feet of Damayantī and wearing the red lac on their heads. Raktareṇu, Nāgagarbha, Nāgaja, Śṛṅgārabhūṣṇa, Śrīmad, Vasantotsavamaṇḍana are some of the synonyms of Sindūra, quoted in Dhanvantarī-nighaṇṭu^[2]. The text refers to the properties of both Sindūra and Girisindūra. According to the text, Sindūra is hot in potency and it cures the stale fever.