Vaishnav Tilak

Vaishnav Tilak

     1. What is Vaishnav Tilak?

Krishna devotees wear the urdhva pundra made up of Gopi Chandan as tilak. The tilak symbolize lotus feet of lord Krishna and his beloved devotee Tulsi leaf. Tilak indicates that the lord resides in the heart and identifies once body as a temple. Srila Prabupada emphasized that tilak was part of essential dress of a devotee. Srila prabhupada has given the example of a policeman, not only policeman is identified by his dress but also remind that his behavior should honor his position. Similarly by seeing someone wearing tilak he is identified as devotee of lord Krishna i.e "There is a Hare Krishna"

As per SB 4.12.28 Purport

"In kali-yuga one can hardly acquire gold or Jeweled ornaments, but the twelve tilak marks on the body are sufficient as auspicious decorations to purify the body." 

                                                        

      2. What is its Significance?

• Once body who has marked with holy names of the lord are never approached by the Yamadutas (constables of king Yama i.e lord of death)
• Scientifically an applying tilak is a kind of Ayurvedic  remedy which helps cures mental stress, insomnia, keep away infectious disease and boost immunity.

     3. How to apply Tilak?

Step 1: Firstly take a few drops of water in left palm and rub Gopi Chandan bar against it and make smooth paste.

Step 2: Apply Gopi Chandan paste with fourth finger of right hand from the top of the nose in upward direction and may repeat several times to get the correct design i.e two straight, neat, parallel lines.

Step 3: Then apply the Gopi Chandan paste in downward direction on the nose (not very short but not the full length of the nose).

Step 4: Join the marks on the forehead and nose at the bridge of the nose, leaving no gap between them.

Step 5: Look in the mirror to get it right after applying tilaka, smear whatever little Gopi Chandana paste remains in your left palm on the top of your head, in the area just above the shikha.  

      4. Where to mark Tilaka on the body?

Tilaka should be applied on 12 places on the body along with chanting following mantra while applying tilaka, in the order shown:

• om Kesavaya namah on forehead
• om narayanaya namah on center of the stomach
• om madhavaya namah on chest
• om govindaya namah on collarbone
• om visnave namah on right side of stomach
• om madhusudanaya namah on lower part of right upper arm.
• om trivikramaya namah on upper right upper arm
• om vamanaya namah on left side of stomach.
• om sridharaya namah on lower part of left upper arm.
• om hrsikesaya namah on upper part of left upper arm.
• om padmanabhaya namah upper back
• om damodaraya namah on lower back
• om vasudevaya namah on top of head.