Why do we wear marks (tilak, pottu and the like) on the forehead?

The tilak or pottu invokes a feeling of sanctity in the wearer and others. It is recognized as a religious mark. Its form and colour vary according to one’s caste, religious sect or the form of the Lord worshipped.

In earlier times, the four castes (based on varna or colour) - Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Sudra - applied marks differently. The brahmin applied a white chandan mark signifying purity, as his profession was of a priestly or academic nature. The kshatriya applied a red kumkum mark signifying valour as he belonged to warrior races. The vaishya wore a yellow kesar or turmeric mark signifying prosperity as he was a businessman or trader devoted to creation of wealth. The sudra applied a black bhasma, kasturi or charcoal mark signifying service as he supported the work of the other three divisions.

Also Vishnu worshippers apply a chandan tilak of the shape of "U,” Shiva worshippers a tripundra of bhasma, Devi worshippers a red dot of kumkum and so on).

The tilak cover the spot between the eyebrows, which is the seat of memory and thinking. It is known as the Aajna Chakra in the language of Yoga. The tilak is applied with the prayer - "May I remember the Lord. May this pious feeling pervade all my activities. May I be righteous in my deeds.” Even when we temporarily forget this prayerful attitude the mark on another reminds us of our resolve. The tilak is thus a blessing of the Lord and a protection against wrong tendencies and forces.

The entire body emanates energy in the form of electromagnetic waves - the forehead and the subtle spot between the eyebrows especially so. That is why worry generates heat and causes a headache. The tilak and pottu cools the forehead, protects us and prevents energy loss. Sometimes the entire forehead is covered with chandan or bhasma. Using plastic reusable "stick bindis" is not very beneficial, even though it serves the purpose of decoration.

Mantras for specific purposes

Mantras for wealth:

1. Om Lakshmi Vam shri kamaladhram svaha2. Jimi sarita sagar mahu jahiJadyapi tahi kamana nahi3. Bishva bharana poshana kara joiTakar nama Bharat asa hoi4. Om shrim hrim shrim kamale kamalalaye mahya prasidaprasida prasida svaha5. Omm shrim hrim shrim mahalakshmyai namah

For Marriage:

1. Taba janaka pai bashishtha ayasu byaha saja savari kaiMandavi shruta kirati Urmila kuwari lai hankari kai2. Katyayani mahamaye mahayogindadhishvariNandagopasutam devi patim me kurute namah

For having children:

1. Devakisutam Govindam Vasudevam JagatpatimDehimeTanayam Krishna twam-aham Sharanagatah.

To have a son:

1. Sarvabadhabinirmukto dhanadhanyasutanvitah Manushyo tatprasaden bhavishyati na samshayah
2. Om hrim lajja jjalyam thah thah lah om hrim svaha

For safety of the child in the womb:

1. Om tham tham thim thim thum them thaim thoum thah thah om

Curing fever:

1. Om namo bhagavate rudraya namah krodhesvaraya namahjyoti patangaya namo namah siddhi rudra ajapayati svaha
2. Om vindhya vanana hum fat svaha
3. Om namo bhagavate chhandi chhandi amukasya jvarasyashara prajjvilita parashupaniye parashaya fat
4. Om namo maha uchchhishta yogini prakirna dranshta khadatitharvati nashyati bhakshyati om thah thah thah thah

Removing any disease:

1. Om Hrim hansah
2. Om shrim hrim klim aim Indrakshyai namah
3. Om sam, sam sim, sum sum sem saim sam saha vam vam vim vim vum vum vemvaim voim voum vam van saha amrita varech svaha.

For sound health:

1. Mam mayat sarvato raksha shriyam vardhaya sarvadaSharirarogyam me dehi deva deva namostute
2. Om aim hrim shrim namah sarvadharaya bhagavate asyamama sarva roga vinashaya jvala jvala enam dirghayusham kuru kuru svaha
3. Achyutam chamritam chaiva japedoushadhakarmani
4. Om namo paramatamne para brahma mama sharire pahi pahi kuru kuru svaha

For curing piles:

1. Om chhai chhui chhalaka chhalai ahumAhum klam klam klim hum

For curing pox:

1. Om shrim shrim shrum shram shroum shrah om kharasthadigambara vikata nayanam toyasthitam bhajami svaha Svangastham prachandarupam namabhyatmabhibutaye

For stimulating digestive fire:

1. Agastyam kumbhakaranam cha shamincha vadavanalamBhojanam pachanarthaya smaredabhyam cha panchakam

For sound sleep:

1. Om agasti shayinah

For long life:

1. Hroum om jom sa om bhurbhuvah svaha omTryambakam yajamahe sugandhim pushtivardhanamUrvarukamiva bandhanata mrityormukshiyamamritat

For children's diseases:

1. Avyadajoangdhri manimanstava janvathoru,yajnoachyutah kati tatam jatharam ka hayasya

For removing obstructions and difficulties:

1. Sakal vighna vyopahin nahin tehinRama sukripan bilokahin jehin
2. Sarva badha prashamanam trailokyasyakhileshvariEvameva tvayakaryamasmad vairi binashanam
3. Om ram ram ram ram ram ro ro ram kashtam svaha
4. Om namah shante prashante gum hrim hrim sarva krodha prashamani svaha

For winning court cases:

1. Pavan tanaya bala pavan samanaBuddhi viveka bigyana nidhana

To Keep safe from snakes:

1. Om Narmadayai vicharana
2. Ananta vasukim shesham padmanabham cha kambalamShankhapalam dhritarashtram takshakam kaliyam tatha munirajam Astikam namah
3. Om plah sarpakulaya svaha ashehakula sarva kulaya svaha

For removing the venom of snakes:

1. Garudadhvajanusmaranat vishaviryam vyapohati
2. Nama prabhau jana Siva nikoKalakuta falu dinha amiko

To keep safe from theft:

1. Om kafall-kafall-kafall
2. Om karalini svaha om kapalini svaha hroum hrim hrim hrim chora bandhaga thah thah

For peace and detachment:

1. Daihika daivika bhoutika tapaRama raja nahin kahu byapa
2. Bharata charita kari mamu tulasije sadar sunahinSiya Rama pada prema avasi hoi bhava rasa birati

For removing doubt:

1. Rama katha sundar karatariSansaya bihaga unavana hari

For purification of thought:

1. Take juga pada kamala manavaunJasu kripa niramala mati pavaun

Reomoval of the evil eye:

1. Shyama Gaura sundara dou joriNirakhahin chhabi janani trina tori

For vision of Sitaji:

1. Janakasuta jagajanani janakiAtisaya priya karunanidhana ki

To please Hanuman:

1. Sumiri pavan suta pavana namuApane basa kari rakhe Ramu

For devotion to God:

1. Bhagata kalpataru pranatahita kripasindhu sukaddhamaSoi nija bhagati mohi prabhu dehu kaya dari Rama

For acquiring knowledge:

1. Chhiti jala pavaka gagana samiraPancha rachita yaha adhama sharira

For God's forgiveness:

1. Anuchita bahuta kaheun agyataKshamahun kshama mandira dou bharata