Tilak redirects here. For the Indian anti-colonial leader see Bal Gangadhar Tilak.

Indian woman with tilaka and bindi

In Hinduism, the tilaka, tilak or tika (Sanskrit: तिलक tilaka; Hindustani pronunciation: [t̪ɪˈlək] tilak)^[1] is a mark worn on the forehead and other parts of the body. Tilaka may be worn on a daily basis or for special religious occasions only, depending on different customs.

Significance of tilaka[link]

The tilaka symbolizes the third eye, or mind's eye, associated with many Hindu deities, and the idea of meditation and spiritual enlightenment. The red dot or "Tika" represents the third eye. 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 one 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.

History and evolution of the tilak[link]

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 tilakas are those worn by Vaishnavites. The Vaishnava tilak consists of a long line starting from just below the hairline to 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 made with sandalwood paste.

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 sacred ash from fire sacrifices. This variant is the more ancient of the two and shares many common aspect with similar markings worn across the world. Many worshippers of Shakti will wear a rectangular mark of kumkum on the forehead, especially South Indians or those of South Indian descent.

Tilak based upon caste system[link]

Based upon the Hindu caste system and vedic texts, there are four types of tilaka:^[2]

• Brahman tilak - Urdhapundra - marking of two vertical lines on forehead (now it is more of a U-shaped tilak.)
• Kshatriya tilak - Ardhachandra - half moon tilak, with a bindi or circular mark in middle of the half arc
• Vaishya tilak - Tripundra - three arc-like vertical lines on the forehead with a circular mark on top of it
• Shudra tilak - Partal - large circular mark on forehead

Terminology[link]

Red tikka powder at Haridwar

In Nepal, Bihar and other regions, the tilak is called a tikā/teeka (टिका [ʈɪkaː]^[3]), and is a mixture of abir, a red powder, yoghurt, and grains of rice. The most common tikka is red powder applied with the thumb, in a single upward stroke.

Tilaka based on religion[link]

Man with tilaka

Different Hindu traditions use different materials and shapes to make the tilaka.^[4]

• 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).^[5]
• Shaktas use kumkuma, or powdered red turmeric. They draw one vertical line or dot.
• Honorary tilakas (Raj tilak and Vir tilak 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.
• Swaminarayan tilak is U-shaped in the middle of forehead along with the red dot in the middle of U (known as chandlo).

Types of tilak[link]

There are nineteen types of tilak:.^[6]

• Vijayshree - white tilak urdhwapundra with a white line in the middle,^[6] founded by Swami Balanand of Jaipur
• Bendi tilak - white tilak urdhwapundra with a white round mark in the middle,^[7] founded by Swami Ramprasad Acharya of Badasthan Ayodhya.
• Chaturbhuji tilak - white tilak urdhwapundra with the upper portion turned 90 degrees in the opposite direction, no shri in the middle, founded by Narayandasji of Bihar, ascetics of Swarg Dwar of Ayodhya follow it.

Other tilaks[link]

These include 12 Sri Tilaks^[8]

1. Sri Tilak of Rewasa Gaddi
2. Ramcharandas Tilak
3. Srijiwaram ka Tilak
4. Sri Janakraj Kishori Sharan Rasik Aliji ka Tilak
5. Sri Rupkalajee ka Tilak
6. Rupsarasji ka Tilak
7. Ramsakheeji ka Tilak
8. Kamnendu Mani ka Tilak
9. Karunsindhuji ka Tilak
10. Swaminarayan Tilak
11. Nimbark ka Tilak
12. Madhwa ka Tilak

Relationship to bindi[link]

The terms tilaka and bindi overlap somewhat, but are definitely not synonymous. Among the differences:

• A tilaka is always applied with paste or powder, whereas a bindi may be paste, a sticker, or even jewelry.
• A tilaka is usually applied for religious or spiritual reasons, or to honor a personage, event, or victory. A bindi can signify marriage, or be simply for decorative purposes.
• A bindi is worn only between the eyes, whereas a tilaka can also cover the face or other parts of the body. Tilak can be applied to twelve parts of the body: head, forehead, neck, both upper-arms, both forearms, chest, both sides of the torso, stomach and shoulder.
• Bindi is a Hindi term, whereas tilaka applies to the entire Indian subcontinent.

Different styles[link]

• 

  A sadhu (holy man) in Ahmedabad

• 

  Sadhus in Rajasthan

• 

  A sadhu in Varanasi

Red tikka marks are traditionally used in wedding ceremonies as well as in everyday life.

See also[link]

• Tilak (Vaishnava)

Notes[link]

References[link]

Further reading[link]

• Mittal, Sushil; Thursby, Gene R. (2006). Religions of South Asia: An Introduction. Taylor & Francis, United Kingdom. ISBN 0-415-22390-3. pp. 73.

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Tilak

• Preparing for Worship
• Vaishnava Tilaka
• How to put on Tilak
• General view on tilak