Types of Tilak

 

 

 

Gaudiya sampradaya

In the Gaudiya Vaishnava sampradaya the tilak is usually made out of mud from Vrindavan. The main tilak is basically identical to the Madhva tilak ( Two vertical lines representing Krishna’s ‘lotus feet‘).In the Gaudiya line devotees do not approach Radha and Krishna directly, but always indirectly through their servant. To indicate this, the black line representing Radha is replaced with a tulsi leaf offered at the base of Krishna’s feet.

Kumara Sampradaya

The tilak is made of Gopi-Chandana (the clay from Gopi Kunda lake in Dwarka, Gujarat). It starts at the bridge of the nose and continues as two vertical lines to the top of the forehead. Within these lines, between the eyebrows is a black dot, made from the slate found in Barsana, Uttar Pradesh, the sacred birthplace of Radha. This is said to represent God as Radha and Krishna together.

Rudra Sampradaya

The tilak worn is generally a single vertical red line. This line represents Yamuna devi. The form of Krishna worshiped in this sampradaya is Sri Nathji or Govardhana..

Sri Sampradaya

Tilak with two lines representing the feet of Narayana. the tilak is made out of the white mud found in anthills. The scriptures tell us that the mud from the base of a Tulasi plant and the white mud from within the ant hill are both pure and best for making tilak.A red line in the middle which representing Lakshmidevi. The red line was originally made from a red stone found within the ant hill. The ants would usually make their ant hill on top of these red stones.

Shaiva Marks

In general Shaiva tilaka is made of ash coming from burned wood, cow dung or incense. The tradition of ash goes back to stories that tell how Shiva would smear his body with ash taken from cremation sites, and so today, Shaivas mark their bodies with holy ash. In general, amongst Shaivas, the wearing of tilaka is not as extensive or as rigid as it is in the Vaishnava schools. Here are the most common Shaiva patterns. .