The Jewish Aryans / Brahmins and all who have been enslaved by them under the name Hindus apply the vermillion on the foreheads – though in different styles. The women wear it to show that they are yet to be married or married with a surviving husband. Little do they realise that it represents the shed blood of Jesus that brings them forgiveness and protection (for themselves and the spouse).

The widows have lost their “head” and are prohibited from wearing it.

Saivites apply three horizontal ash bands on their foreheads, a sandal dot in the middle and the vermillion on top of it – three bands representing the Trinity, the middle one representing Jesus, the second person in the Trinity, the wood of the tree signifying the cross and the vermilion signifying the blood that was shed by Jesus on it.

The Vaishnavites apply three vertical bands with the vermillion in the middle and showing it to spill from top down. The ash, co-incidentally, represents the ash of the heifer that was to be burnt (dung and all) outside the Israelite camp, which was used to sanctify the people after mixing the ash with water. This was one of the instructions given to Moses by God – all of these indicating the ultimate sacrifice of the Lord Jesus who was anticipated by them in history. What the shadow was in the Old testament was fulfilled by the Subject, the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave rise to the New Testament.