A Wisdom Archive on tilaka dictionary

tilaka
Auspicious marks, of sacred clay and other substances, applied daily on the forehead (and sometimes on various limbs as well) to dedicate one’s body to God.

 
(See also: tilaka, Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul )

Tilaka - clay markings worn on the forehead and other parts of the body by Vaisnavas, signifying their devotion to Lord Krsna or Visnu, and consecrating the body as the Lord’s temple.

 
(See also: Tilaka, Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul )

Bindu:
 
Bindu ("seed/point"): the creative potency of anything where all energies are focused; the dot (also called tilaka) worn on the forehead as indicative of the third eye

 
(See also: Bindu, Yoga, Yoga Dictionary )

tilaka: (Sanskrit) "Sesamum-like mark," from tila, "sesame seed."
 
Distinctive marks made on the forehead or the brow with clay, ashes or sandalwood paste as an indication of sectarian affiliation. Vaishnavas wear a vertical v-shaped tilaka made of clay.
 
The Saivite tilaka, called tripundra, is three horizontal strips of holy ash with a dot below the middle of the forehead. Wearing the tilaka is an expression of religious affiliation and pride in one's beliefs, not unlike the Christian's cross or the Jew's yarmulke.
 
Elaborate tilakas are worn by Hindus today mainly at religious events and when on pilgrimage, though many Hindus wear the simple dot (bindu) on the forehead, indicating that they are Hindu, even when moving in the general public.
See: bindu, Hinduism, tripundra.

(See also: Tilaka, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul )

vishnu-tilaka
See tilaka.

 
(See also: vishnu-tilaka, Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul )

urddhva-punsra-tilaka - the vertical clay markings of the Vaisnavas worn on the forehead and other parts of the body to symbolize their devotion to Lord Krsna or Visnu.

 
(See also: urddhva-punsra-tilaka, Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul )

tripundra: (Sanskrit) "Three marks."
 
The Saivite sectarian mark, consisting of three horizontal lines of vibhuti (holy ash) on the brow, often with a dot (bindu) at the third eye. The three lines represent the soul's three bonds: anava, karma and maya. Holy ash, made of burnt cow dung, is a reminder of the temporary nature of the physical body and the urgency to strive for spiritual attainment and closeness to God.
See: bindu, tilaka, vibhuti.

(See also: Tripundra, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul )

sandalwood: Chandana.
 
The Asian evergreen tree Santalum album. Its sweetly fragrant heartwood is ground into the fine, tan-colored paste distributed as prasada in Saivite temples and used for sacred marks on the forehead, tilaka. Sandalwood is also prized for incense, carving and fine cabinetry.

(See also: Sandalwood, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul )