Marking the body with Vishnu-Tilaka
Tilaka refers to marks placed on the body using various substances.
Urdhva-pundra refers to the two vertical marks placed on the forehead and other
parts of the body to indicate surrender to Lord Vishnu. The Padma Purana and
Yajur Veda state that urdhva-pundra symbolizes the lotus foot of Vishnu. The
twelve parts of the body on which we place the urdhva-pundra marks are not
arbitrary points. They are sensitive points that easily absorb the spiritual
energy generated by reciting the names of Vishnu and mentally placing the Lord
in those positions.
If a devotee applies the marks of the Lord and chants His name, the Lord becomes pleased and resides with him. In this way the material body becomes a sanctified temple of the Lord.
The Brahmanda states that a devotee who applies his tilaka with great care while looking in mirror or looking at his re¬flection in water goes to the Lord’s supreme abode.
The tilaka is applied to twelve parts of the body — that is, on the forehead, navel, heart, throat, sides of the abdomen, arms, shoulders, nape of the neck, and lower back. Applying tilaka on these places and reciting Vishnu’s names sanctifies and dedicates the body to the Lord’s service.
While decorating the body with tilaka, he gives protection to the body by chanting different names of Vishnu. Tilaka is applied to the other parts of the body in the same fashion as it is applied to the forehead. One should mix tilaka in the palm of one’s left hand (or premix it in a small container) and apply it with the ring finger of the right hand to twelve places on the body while chanting the following mantras:
The forehead: Om Keshavaya namah
The abdomen: Om Narayanaya namah
The chest: Om Madhavaya namah
The throat: Om Govindaya namah
The right side of abdomen: Om Vishnave namah
The right arm: Om Madhusudanaya namah
The right shoulder: Om Trivikramaya namah
The left side of abdomen: Om Vamanaya namah
The left arm: Om Sridharaya namah
The left shoulder: Om Hrishikesaya namah
The upper back: Om Padmanabhaya namah
The lower back: Om Damodaraya namah
Whatever tilaka is left over should he wiped in the region of the sikha with the mantra: Om Vasudevaya namah.
If a devotee applies the marks of the Lord and chants His name, the Lord becomes pleased and resides with him. In this way the material body becomes a sanctified temple of the Lord.
The Brahmanda states that a devotee who applies his tilaka with great care while looking in mirror or looking at his re¬flection in water goes to the Lord’s supreme abode.
The tilaka is applied to twelve parts of the body — that is, on the forehead, navel, heart, throat, sides of the abdomen, arms, shoulders, nape of the neck, and lower back. Applying tilaka on these places and reciting Vishnu’s names sanctifies and dedicates the body to the Lord’s service.
While decorating the body with tilaka, he gives protection to the body by chanting different names of Vishnu. Tilaka is applied to the other parts of the body in the same fashion as it is applied to the forehead. One should mix tilaka in the palm of one’s left hand (or premix it in a small container) and apply it with the ring finger of the right hand to twelve places on the body while chanting the following mantras:
The forehead: Om Keshavaya namah
The abdomen: Om Narayanaya namah
The chest: Om Madhavaya namah
The throat: Om Govindaya namah
The right side of abdomen: Om Vishnave namah
The right arm: Om Madhusudanaya namah
The right shoulder: Om Trivikramaya namah
The left side of abdomen: Om Vamanaya namah
The left arm: Om Sridharaya namah
The left shoulder: Om Hrishikesaya namah
The upper back: Om Padmanabhaya namah
The lower back: Om Damodaraya namah
Whatever tilaka is left over should he wiped in the region of the sikha with the mantra: Om Vasudevaya namah.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
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