Tilaka refers to the markings which Vaisnava devotees apply
to their bodies, to remind themselves and others that we are
all eternal servants of Lord Krsna. The U-shaped mark represents
the heel of Lord Visnu, and the oval part represents the Tulasi
leaf. Tilaka is applied to twelve parts of the body, and the
twelve names of the Lord are recited with each application. To
apply tilaka, start with a little Ganges or Yamuna water (if
you don't have any, get some water, and stirring it with your
right middle finger, chant:
ganga cha yamune chaiva
godavari saravati
narmade sindho kaveri
jale 'smin sannidhim kuru
"O Ganges, O Yamuna, O Godavari, O Saravati,
O Narmada, O Sindhu, O Kaveri, please become present in this
water."
Put the water in your left hand, and rub the hard tilak into
the water, creating a wet paste out of the clay. Begin by putting
your ring finger of the right hand into the clay, and starting
between the eyebrows, bring the finger straight up to the hairline,
making two straight lines. It should look like a long, narrow
U-shape. Then use some more tilak to make the Tulasi leaf on
your nose, it should extend about 3/4 of the way down your nose.
As you apply the tilak to your body, chant the following mantras:
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