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Tilak redirects here. For the Indian nationalist leader see Bal Gangadhar Tilak. For the village in Bangladesh, see Tilak, Bangladesh.

Indian woman with tilaka and bindi

In Hinduism, the tilaka or tilak (Sanskrit: तिलक tilaka)^[1] is a mark worn on the forehead and other parts of the body, not to be confused with a bindi. Tilaka may be worn on a daily basis or for special religious occasions only, depending on different customs.

[edit] Significance of tilaka

The tilaka symbolize the third eye, or mind's eye, that is associated with many hindu Gods and the idea of meditation and spiritual enlightenment. In the past, tilakas were usually worn by Gods, priests, ascetics, or worshippers, but is now a common practice for most Hindus. It can express which Hindu tradition he follows. It may be made with sandalwood paste, ashes (vibhuti), kumkum, sindhoor, clay, or other substances. The pastes are applied to the forehead and in some cases to the upper part of the head.

[edit] History and Evolution of the Tilak

Dog with tilaka.

The tilak is a mark created by the smearing of powder or paste on the forehead. Occasionally it extends vertically and horizontally on a large part of the forehead and may cover the nose also. The most conspicuous and widespread are those worn by Vaishnavites or followers of Lord Vishnu and his incarnations, chiefly Lord Krishna. The tilak consists of a long line starting from just below the hairline till almost the end of one's nose tip. It is intercepted in the middle by an elongated U. There may be two marks on the temples as well. This tilak is traditionally done with sandalwood paste, lauded in Hindu texts for its purity and cooling nature.

The other major tilak variant is often worn by the followers of Lord Shiva and the different forms of Devi Shakti. It consists of three horizontal bands across the forehead with a single vertical band or circle in the middle. This is traditionally done with the ash or bhasma of the wood used in yagnyas to propitiate Lord Shiva or Devi Shakti. This variant is the more ancient of the two and shares many common aspect with similar markings worn across the world.

Nowadays, tilaks are rarely worn except by Hindu priests and Hindu women who wear the Bindi. It is often sported on religious occasions and on auspicious days such as birthdays, weddings etc.

[edit] Terminology

The word is pronounced "tilak" in Hindi, and is often written that way.

In Nepal, Bihar and other regions, the tilak is called a tika (टिका), and is a mixture of abir, a red powder, yoghurt, and grains of rice.

[edit] Varieties of Tilaka

Man with tilaka

Different Hindu traditions use different materials and shapes to make the tilaka.

Saivites typically use vibhuti in three horizontal lines across the forehead. A bindu of sandalwood paste with a dot of kumkum in the centre is often worn with the vibhuti. (tripundra).
Vaishnavas apply clay from a holy river or place (such as Vrindavan or the Yamuna river) which is sometimes mixed with sandalwood paste. They apply the material in two vertical lines, which may be connected at the bottom, forming either a simple U shape or with an additional marking in the shape of a tulsi leaf. Their tilaka is called the Urdhva Pundra Tilak.
Ganapatya use red sandal paste (rakta candana).^[2]
Shaktas use kumkuma, or powdered red turmeric. They draw one vertical line or dot.
Honorary tilakas (Raj Tilak and Vir Tilak): They are usually applied as a single vertical red line. Raj Tilak will be used while throning kings or inviting prominent personalities. Vir Tilak is used to anoint victors or leaders after a war or a game.

[edit] Use by women

Hindu women have been using Tilaka for many millennia. The tilaka are worn as a beauty mark by women of all faiths, with no adherence of Hindu belief. They generally use dots (bindi) rather than the lines and larger marks worn by men. The term "Bindi" seems to be more often used for beauty marks.

The bindi can vary from small to large. Sometimes the terms sindoor, kumkum, or kasturi are used, by reference to the material used to make the mark.

Married Hindu women may also wear additional Tilaka between the parting of the hair above forehead. This mark serves to indicate marital status.

For cultural reasons, the bindi is worn by women of many religious dispositions in India and Indonesia (including Muslim women) and is not unique to Hindus alone.

[edit] See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Tilak

Tilak (Vaishnava)

[edit] Notes

^ V. S. Apte. A Practical Sanskrit Dictionary. p. 475.
^ p. 202, note 40. Grimes, John A. Ganapati: Song of the Self. (State University of New York Press: Albany, 1995) ISBN 0-7914-2440-5

[edit] References

Entwistle, A. W. (1981). Vaishnava tilakas: Sectarian marks worn by worshippers of Vishnu (IAVRI bulletin). International Association of the Vrindaban Research Institute.

[edit] External links

[0] V. S. Apte. A Practical Sanskrit Dictionary. p. 475.

[1] . 202, note 40. Grimes, John A. Ganapati: Song of the Self. (State University of New York Press: Albany, 1995) ISBN 0-7914-2440-5

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