Power of Tilaka

The meaning of putting Tilaka is to go upwards or make advancement in spiritual life. After becoming purified through a purificatory process, a living entity accepts proper renunciation from his family life. But until he decorates his body with the marks of Tilaka, he does not get any result from undergoing the purificatory process. All his miseries, all his renunciation, all his resolution of abandoning material happiness, and all his controlling the senses goes in vain if he does not endeavor to make further advancement in his spiritual life.

The name of the Tilaka of Vaishnavas is Urdhapundra. Marking the body with the Tilaka means decorating the temple of Lord Hari. In other words to fully take shelter of the Sat – Cit – Ananda Lord, one needs to put Tilaka all over his body. These markings, apart from the body, have a bearing on the mind, and on the soul. To become attached to the Supreme Lord by becoming detached to the material world is called purification and inclination towards the Lord. These two ornaments are extremely necessary for the conditioned souls. A body without the marks of Tilaka is a dead body; if one sees such a body, he should purify himself by taking bath in the ocean of repentance.

The mind of a person who does not decorate with the marks of Tilaka simply wanders in insignificant matters becomes attached to an insignificant objects, and engages in discussing insignificant topics. O Service inclined living entities! Do not waste your time. Mark your mind, body, and self with the marks of Tilaka and proceed towards the abode of Vaishnavas. The essential characteristic of a person who does not decorate his body with the marks of Tilaka gets lost. Therefore, one must decorate his body with the marks of Tilaka.

Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur