“In Kali-yuga one can hardly acquire gold or jeweled ornaments, but the twelve tilaka marks on the body are sufficient as auspicious decorations
Significance of Tilak
In the Vaishnava tradition devotees wear the urdhva pundra made of gopi chandan commonly known as tilak.
"Tilaka means victory personified."
By wearing tilak not only does one identify ones body as the temple of the Lord but also one is blessed by the
“In Kali-yuga one can hardly acquire gold or jeweled ornaments, but the twelve tilaka marks on the body are sufficient as auspicious decorations
Srila Prabhupada emphasized that tilak was part of the essential dress of a devotee.
“I have no objection if members of the Society dress like nice American gentlemen; but in all circumstances a devotee cannot avoid tilaka, flag on
Tilak is applied with the Lord’s holy names thus giving protection to the whole body.
“While decorating the body with tilaka, we give protection to the body by chanting twelve names
"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 necks and