Bindu

“Point”, “drop”, “seed”. A multivalent concept in tantra and haṭha yoga.

Main meanings:

1. Subtle-anatomical: Point at the back of the skull (near brahmarandhra) from where amṛta descends.
2. Semen: In tantric texts, bindu frequently refers to male semen, whose retention (ūrdhvaretas) is essential for practice.
3. Energy concentration: The point where energy concentrates before manifesting.
4. The Oṃ point: The drop above the crescent in the Oṃ symbol, representing concentrated consciousness.

The HYP emphasizes that loss of bindu leads to death, and its retention to longevity. Mudrā practices (especially vajrolī) seek to control bindu.