[Essien Joy]

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I wondered why tilak, meaning “ a mark made on the forehead” , was applied during religious ceremonies in Hinduism.

I conducted some study and I discovered that the tilak,when applied on the head during religious ceremonies, has some importance .

You should keep reading because you will learn something new.

Before I begin,you should have a basic idea of,

 

What a tilak is? What it is made of and its origin?

What is a tilak?
A tilak is a mark applied on the forehead but they can also be applied to other places like the neck and hands.

An example of a tilak is the red dot applied on the forehead by the Indians.

However, you should note that tilaks come in different shapes and colors.

What is tilak made of and where did it come from?

 

The practice of wearing a tilak began in Hindu culture.  Applying a tilak on the forehead is considered auspicious in the culture, meaning it brings good fortune and blessings .

Tilak is a paste made of clay,turmeric,sandalwood, vermillion or ash.

 

having had a basic understanding of tilak.

Let us understand

The Importance of Applying Tilak On The Forehead In Hinduism During Religious Ceremonies :

1) Wedding ceremonies 
During the pre-wedding ceremony, the bride’s brother applies tilak to the groom’s forehead, marking the bride’s father’s acceptance of the groom into his family.

During the wedding ceremony, both the bride and groom apply tilak to protect themselves from negative energies and bring good fortune for the couple’s new journey together.

2) Puja
This is a religious ceremony in which prayers, food, and sacred artifacts are offered to the deities.

During puja:
1) Tilak is applied to connect with the divine faster.

2) Tilak is applied to awaken the Anna chakra “also known as third eye” which improves focus and awareness and provides inner wisdom.

3) Tilak is applied to tell the God or Goddess being worshiped. For example, “worshippers of  shiva apply tilak with a symbol having 3 horizontal lines while worshippers of vishnu apply tilak in 2 vertical lines,connecting near the nose forming a U shape”.

3)During Funeral rites:
Tilak is applied on the dead to show respect and to enable a peaceful passage for their soul during the transfer to the afterlife.

Tilak is applied with the ring finger to souls seeking moksha “meaning souls that want to break free from reincarnation cycle”.

In conclusion, the application of Tilak has a variety of significance in many religious ceremonies in Hinduism culture, but one significance is the protection from negative energy and provision of auspiciousness.

This explains how essential the application of Tilak on the forehead is to those who practice Hinduism.

So, if you learnt a new significance for applying tilak during religious ceremonies,  please share it in the comments area.

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• This topic was modified 1 year ago by .

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