 In Hinduism, the tilaka or tilak 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
The tilaka is decorative and is also an identifying mark. Worn by a priest, ascetic, or worshiper it shows which Hindu tradition he follows. It may be made with sandalwood paste, ashes (vibhuti), kumkum, sindhoor, clay, or another substance. The pastes are applied to the forehead and in some cases to the upper part of the head.
A hymn of the Rig Veda describes Lord Surya's wife, the goddess Usha (or dawn), as wearing a bright red dot on her forehead, symbolic of the rising sun. Tilakas are also discussed in the Vasudeva Upanishad.
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, and is a mixture of abir, a red powder, yoghurt, and grains of rice.
Varieties of tilaka
Different Hindu traditions use different materials and shapes to make the tilaka.- Saivites typically use ashes and draw their tilakas as three horizontal lines (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.
- Ganapatya use red sandal paste (rakta candana).
- 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.
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.
Abir
Abir (or abeer) is a dye common in India. It is used during the Holi festival, which is also called the festival of color, when people throw this colourful powder at each other. Abir is typically sold in markets prior to the festival.
Abir is available in synthetic or natural form. Its colors are derived from flower extracts, for instance aparajita, marigold, hibiscus and dopati. The dye is sometimes combined with mica powder to create a sparkling effect.
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