ISKCON PANDAVA SENA
PS BANK
Your guide to Krishna Consciousness basics.
Tulasi
The sacred plant most dear to Krishna
OVERVIEW
Tilak is the sacred clay marking worn by devotees of Krishna as an external sign of devotion and remembrance of the Lord. Because Krishna resides within every living being as Paramātmā (the Supersoul), the body is understood to be His temple.
Applying tilak reminds the devotee that the body belongs to Krishna and should be used in His service. Though simple in appearance, tilak is considered an auspicious decoration that purifies the body and consciousness.
Traditionally, devotees apply tilak after bathing by mixing sacred clay with water to form a smooth paste.
The forehead is marked first with two vertical lines, leaving space in the centre to represent the temple of Vishnu.
The remaining eleven marks are placed on different parts of the body while remembering the Lord’s names.
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada personally demonstrated this process daily, carefully applying the clay while devotees observed and learned the practice.
KEYPOINTS
Tilak reminds us that Krishna resides within the heart as Paramātmā
The body is the Lord’s temple and should be treated with purity and respect
Wearing tilak is an external sign of surrender and devotional identity
Applying twelve tilak markings purifies the body and sanctifies it for
service
Tilak serves as a constant reminder to remember Krishna throughout the day
Even simple clay markings are considered spiritually auspicious decorations
PRACTICAL TIPS
Apply tilak daily after bathing, preferably in the morning
Use Gopi Chandan whenever available
Mix the clay with a small amount of clean water to form a paste
Apply the forehead marking carefully as two vertical lines representing the Lord’s lotus feet
Mark the twelve areas of the body while remembering the Lord’s different names
Apply tilak consciously as an act of devotion rather than habit or routine
MANTRAS DURING APPLICATION
While applying tilak, devotees remember the Lord in His different forms:
Forehead — Keśava
Lower abdomen — Nārāyaṇa
Chest — Mādhava
Neck — Govinda
Right abdomen — Viṣṇu
Right arm — Madhusūdana
Right shoulder — Trivikrama
Left abdomen — Vāmana
Left arm — Śrīdhara
Left shoulder — Hṛṣīkeśa
Upper back — Padmanābha
Lower back — Dāmodara
FROM THE SCRIPTURES
“Every devotee should take his bath early in the morning and decorate his body with tilaka. In Kali-yuga one can hardly acquire gold or jeweled ornaments, but the twelve tilaka marks on the body are sufficient as auspicious decorations to purify the body.” - Srimad Bhagavatam (4.26.25 Purport)
RESOURCES
Apply tilak daily after bathing, preferably in the morning
Use Gopi Chandan whenever available
Mix the clay with a small amount of clean water to form a paste
Apply the forehead marking carefully as two vertical lines representing the Lord’s lotus feet
Mark the twelve areas of the body while remembering the Lord’s different names
Apply tilak consciously as an act of devotion rather than habit or routine
MANTRAS DURING APPLICATION
While applying tilak, devotees remember the Lord in His different forms:
Forehead — Keśava
Lower abdomen — Nārāyaṇa
Chest — Mādhava
Neck — Govinda
Right abdomen — Viṣṇu
Right arm — Madhusūdana
Right shoulder — Trivikrama
Left abdomen — Vāmana
Left arm — Śrīdhara
Left shoulder — Hṛṣīkeśa
Upper back — Padmanābha
Lower back — Dāmodara
