Tilak

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Tilak is a mark of auspiciousness. It is put on the forehead with sandal

paste, sacred ashes or kumkum (red tumeric). The devotees of Siva apply sacred

ashes (Bhasma) on the

forehead, the devotees of Vishnu apply sandal paste

(Chandan), and the worshippers of Devi or Shakti apply

Kumkum, a red tumeric powder.

 

 

The scriptures say: " A forehead without a Tilak, a woman without a husband, a

Mantra the meaning of which is not known while doing Japa (recitation), the head

that does not bend before holy personages, a heart without mercy, a house

without a well, a village without a temple, a country without a river, a society

without a leader, wealth that is not given away in charity, a preceptor without

a disciple, a country without justice, a king without an able minister, a woman

not obedient to her husband, a well without water, a flower without smell, a

soul devoid of holiness, a field without rains, an intellect without clearness,

a disciple who does not consider his preceptor as a form of God, a body devoid

of health, a custom (Aachar) without purity, austerity devoid of fellow-feeling,

speech in which truth is not the basis,

a country without good people, work without wages, Sannyasa without

renunciation, legs that have not performed pilgrimages, determination unaided by

Viveka or discrimination, a knife which is blunt, a cow that does not give milk,

a spear without a point- all these are worthy of condemnation. They exist for

name’s sake only. "

From this you can imagine the importance of Tilak

or the sacred mark.

 

 

 

Tilak is applied at the Ajna Chakra, the space between the two eyebrows. It

has a very cooling effect. Application of sandal paste has great medicinal

value, apart from the spiritual influence. Application of sandal paste will

nullify the heating effect when you concentrate and meditate at the Bhrumadhya.

Tilak indicates the point at which the spiritual eye opens.

 

Lord Siva has a third eye at the Brumadhya. When he opens the third eye, the

three worlds are destroyed.

 

 

So also, when the third eye of the Jiva is opened, the three kinds of

afflictions – Adhyatmika, Adhidaivika and Adhibhautika- are burnt to ashes. The

three Karmas- Sanchita, Prarabdha and Agami,- and also all the sins committed in

the countless previous births, are burnt.

 

 

When you apply the Tilak, you mentally imagine: " I am the one non-dual

Brahman free from all duality. May my eye

of intuition open soon. " You should remember this every time you apply a Tilak.

 

 

 

There are various methods of applying Tilak.

 

Saivas apply three horizontal lines with the sacred ashes.

 

The vaishnavas apply three vertical lines (Tripundra) on the forehead. When

they apply Tilak, they say: " O Lord, protect me from the evil effects of the

Trigunatmika Maya which has Sattwa, Rajas and Tamas as its binding cords. "

 

Some Vaishnavas apply only one vertical line.

 

 

Only the method of application differs, but the significance is the same in

both the Vaishnavas and the Saivas.

 

 

 

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