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Tilaka is the mark of a Vaiṣṇava and signifies that the body is a temple of Lord Viṣṇu. While applying tilaka on the twelve parts of the body, a devotee remembers the twelve names of the Lord and prays for His protection and invokes mercy.
lalāṭe keśavaṁ dhyāyen nārāyaṇam athodare vakṣaḥ-sthale mādhavaṁ tu govindaṁ kaṇṭha-kūpake
viṣṇuṁ ca dakṣiṇe kukṣau bāhau ca madhusūdanam trivikramaṁ kandhare tu vāmanaṁ vāma-pārśvake śrīdharaṁ vāma-bāhau tu hṛṣīkeśaṁ tu kandhare pṛṣṭhe ca padmanābhaṁ ca kaṭyāṁ dāmodaraṁ nyaset
ISKCON Tilak Mantra - Sanskrit, Body Part & Name of Lord Vishnu
| Sanskrit Mantra | Mantra | Body Part |
|---|---|---|
| lalāṭe keśavaṁ dhyāyet | Om Keshavaya Namaha | Forehead (ललाट) |
| nārāyaṇam athodare | Om Narayanaya Namaha | Belly (उदर) |
| vakṣaḥ-sthale mādhavaṁ tu | Om Madhavaya Namaha | Chest (वक्षःस्थल) |
| govindaṁ kaṇṭha-kūpake | Om Govindaya Namaha | Hollow of Throat (कण्ठकूप) |
| viṣṇuṁ ca dakṣiṇe kukṣau | Om Vishnave Namaha | Right Belly (दक्षिण कुक्षि) |
| bāhau ca madhusūdanam | Om Madhusudhanaya Namaha | Right Arm (बाहु) |
| trivikramaṁ kandhare tu | Om Trivikramaya Namaha | Right Shoulder (कन्धर) |
| vāmanaṁ vāma-pārśvake | Om Vamanaya Namaha | Left Belly (वाम पार्श्व) |
| śrīdharaṁ vāma-bāhau tu | Om Shridharaya Namaha | Left Arm (वाम बाहु) |
| hṛṣīkeśaṁ tu kandhare | Om Hrishikeshaya Namaha | Left Shoulder (कन्धर) |
| pṛṣṭhe ca padmanābhaṁ ca | Om Padmanabhaya Namaha | Upper Back (पृष्ठ) |
| kaṭyāṁ dāmodaraṁ nyaset | Om Damodaraya Namaha | Lower Back (कटि) |
ISKCON Tilak Mantra Significance
If one wants to become dear to Lord Vishnu or Krishna, he must apply tilak on his body. Those who have Viṣṇu tilaka on their forehead are to be understood as devotees of Lord Viṣṇu in this world. Their presence makes the world purified, and wherever they remain they make that place as good as Vaikuṇṭha (Padma Purana).
It is stated in Skanda Purāṇa that persons who are decorated with tilaka or gopī-candana and who mark their bodies all over with the holy names of the Lord, and on whose neck there are tulasī beads, are never approached by the Yamadūtas.
In ISKCON, everyone applies tilak after taking bath. Tilak is a daily reminder that we are eternal servants of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. According to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the topmost Vaiṣṇava is one whose presence inspires others to remember and chant the holy names of Lord Kṛṣṇa. By applying tilaka and chanting the names of the Lord, devotees dedicate their body, mind, and activities to the service of the Lord and remain under His divine protection.
