The tilak (Sanskrit tilaka, mark) is a mark worn on
the forehead and other parts of the body for spiritual reasons. On a man, the tilak takes the form of different lines, indicating his religious affiliation. If it covers the entire forehead in three horizontal lines, then it denotes the wearer is an ascetic or belongs to a particular sect The tilak is worn every day by sadhus and pious householders, and on special occasions like weddings and religious rituals. A tilak is also applied by a priest during a visit to the temple as a sign of the deitys blessing, for both men and women They might be made of ash from a sacrificial fire, sandalwood paste, turmeric, cow dung, clay, charcoal, or red lead. In addition to its religious symbolism, the tilak has a cooling effect on the forehead and this can assist in concentration and meditation. It is applied as a U by worshippers of lord Vishnu and is red, yellow or saffron in color. It is made up of red ochre powder (Sindhur) and sandalwood paste (Gandha). Worshippers of lord Shiva apply it as three horizontal lines and it consists of ash (Bhasma). Thus there is a variety of pigments; red, yellow, saffron, white, grey and black, etc. These pigments are not only applied on the forehead but in some cases they are applied also on the forearms and the abdomen. Among Vaishnavites (followers of Vishnu), the many tilak variations usually include two or more vertical
lines resembling the letter U, which symbolizes the
foot of Vishnu. There is sometimes a central line or dot. Most Vaishanative tilaks are made of sandalwood paste (Chandan). The worshippers of the goddess Devi or Shakti apply Kumkum, a red tumeric powder. Usually Tilak is worn on religious occasions, its shape often representing particular devotion to a certain main deity: a U or V shape stands for Vishnu, a group of three horizontal lines for Shiva. It is not uncommon for some to meld both in an amalgam marker signifying Hari-Hara (Vishnu-Shiva indissoluble). Vibhuti expresses the concept that this world we live in and the universe are driven by the functions of creation, preservation and destruction as enacted by t Brahma, Vishnu and Siva. The significance of Vibhuthi is that the body is to be transformed in to ash one day, hence the morality of all men and women born in this world. With this realization we should overcome the ego and selfishness in us and conduct our lives in the righteous path. Vaishnavas call their representation of Namam on their foreheads as Thirumann, which means the sacred earth (dust). Namam consists of three vertical lines joined at the base, the two outer whitelines signifying the worship of Brahama and Shiva and the red centerline signifying Vishnu. The Namam(thirumann) signifies the fact the men and women of this world will all be transformed. Only the method of application differs, but the significance is the same in both the Vaishnavas and the Saivas and saktyas.