Most religious Indians, especially married
women wear a tilak or pottu on the forehead. It is applied daily
after the bath and on special occasions, before or after ritualistic worship or
visit to the temple. In many communities, it is enjoined upon married women to
sport a kum kum on their foreheads at all times. The orthodox put it on
with due rituals. The tilak is applied on saints and images of the Lord
as a form of worship and in many parts of North India as a respectful form of
welcome, to honour guests or when bidding farewell to a son or husband about to
embark on an journey. The tilak varies in colour and
form.
This custom was not prevelant in the Vedic
period. it gained popularity in the Pauranic period. Some belive that it
originated in South India.
The tilak or pottu invokes
a
feeling of sanctity in the wearer and others. It is recognised as a religious
mark. It form and colour vary according to one's caste, religious sect or the
form of the Lord worshiped.
In earlier times, the four castes (based
on
verna or color) - Braahmana,Kshatriya,Vaishya and
Sudra - applied marks differently. The brahmin applied a white
chandan (sandalwood paste) mark signifying purity as his profession was
of a priestly or ecademic nature. The Kshatriya applied a red kum
kum mark signifying valour as he belonged to the warrior races. The
Vaishya wore yellow kesar or termeric mark signifying properity as
he was a business man or trader devotted to creation of wealth. The sudra
applied a black bhasma, kasturi or charcoal mark signifying
service as he support the work of the other three divisions. Also Lord Vishnu
worshipers apply a chandan tilak of the shape of "U", Lord Shiva
worshipers applied a tripundra bhasma, Devi worshippers applied red dot
of kum kum.
The chandan, kum kum or
bhasma which is offered to the Lord is taken back as prasad and
applied on foreheads. The tilak covers the spot between the eye brows,
which the seat of memory and thinking. It is known as the aajna chakra in
the language of yoga. The tilak is applied with the prayer - "May i
remember the Lord. May this pious feeling pervade all my activities. May I be
righteous in my deeds". Even when we temporarily forget this prayerful attitude
the mark on another reminds us of our resolve. The tilak is thus a
blessing of the Lord and protection against wrong tendencies and
forces.
The entire body emanates energy in the
form
of electro-magnetic waves - the forehead and the subtle spot between the eye
brows especially so. That is why worry generates heat and causes a headache. The
tilak or pottu cools the forehead, protects us and prevents energy
loss. Sometimes, the entire forehead is covered with chandan or
bhasma. Using plastic reusable 'stick bindis' is not very beneficial,
even though it serves the purpose of decoration.
This unique to Indians and helps to easily
identify us anywhere.
