The tradition of Tilak is indeed a beautiful one among the other traditions of Indian culture. The world Tilak is basically derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Tilakam’. Tilak is basically a round medium sized dot/mark adorned on the forehead, it is generally prepared from sandalwood paste, vermillion, flower’s powder and ashes sometimes to give it a red or an orange color. This tradition of Tilak is considered to be auspicious and meaningful in the Indian culture. It is mandatory for the Hindu priests and Hindu religious masters in India while the others adorn it as normal devotees who follow the Hindu religion. It is also known as tika or teeka in few Indian states and it is adorned in different style like, some Hindu priests and saints or people of Hindu religious groups apply tilak by covering the whole forehead, whereas Vaishnavas (followers of Lord Vishnu) put it as the three horizontal lines known as the ‘Vishnu mark’. Other devotees put in as a simple round mark on the forehead. The significance of this tradition of Tilak is appealing as it signifies the mark of power, awakening and enlightenment for the person who adorns it. There is a spiritual significance behind this tradition and that is, the soul resides at the center of the forehead and it is the king/ruler of the mind, intellect and the whole body thus this ruler should be regarded with the mark/Tilak of power and wisdom. A Tilak is considered to be the ornament of the soul in the human body.
