The Sanskrit word Bindu means “point” or “drop.”
At first glance, it may seem like a minor detail. But in Tantra and Yoga, bindu can refer to several very different concepts.
Bindu as the Center
In yantras and mandalas, bindu is the central point.
In the Sri Yantra, for example, the bindu lies at the very center of the complex geometric structure.
This point can symbolize the source from which the entire structure unfolds.
In other words, an immense multiplicity of forms is brought back to one tiny point.
Bindu as an Inner Concept
In some yogic and Tantric texts, bindu is associated not with a diagram, but with the subtle body.
In these contexts, the word may refer to a special “drop” or subtle substance associated with vital force, consciousness, and internal practice.
This is why bindu does not always mean the same thing.
What Does a Practitioner Actually Do?
When bindu is used in meditation, a practitioner may focus attention on a single point — either an external one or one created through visualization.
The basic principle is simple: to gather scattered attention into one place.
Bindu therefore illustrates an important principle found in Tantra:
A vast and complex system can begin with a very small symbol.
Bindu is not a separate organ or a “secret point in the body,” but a symbol whose meaning depends on the particular tradition in which it is used.