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

5. 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 andcauses 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.

Why do we have a prayer room?

2. Why do we have a prayer room?
Most Indian homes have a prayer room or altar. A lamp is lit and the Lord worshipped each
day. Other spiritual practices like japa - repetition of the Lord’s name, meditation,
paaraayana - reading of the scriptures, prayers, and devotional singing etc are also done
here. Special worship is done on auspicious occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, festivals
and the like. Each member of the family - young or old - communes with and worships the
Divine here.
The Lord is the entire creation. He is therefore the true owner of the house we live in too.
The prayer room is the Master room of the house. We are the earthly occupants of His
property. This notion rids us of false pride and possessiveness.
The ideal attitude to take is to regard the Lord as the true owner of our homes and us as
caretakers of His home. But if that is rather difficult, we could at least think of Him as a
very welcome guest. Just as we would house an important guest in the best comfort, so too
we felicitate the Lord’s presence in our homes by having a prayer room or altar, which is, at
all times, kept clean and well-decorated.
Also the Lord is all pervading. To remind us that He resides in our homes with us, we have
prayer rooms. Without the grace of the Lord, no task can be successfully or easily
accomplished. We invoke His grace by communing with Him in the prayer room each day and
on special occasions.
Hindu Rituals and Routines Why do we follow them?
Each room in a house is dedicated to a specific function like the bedroom for resting, the
drawing room to receive guests, the kitchen for cooking etc. The furniture, decor and the
atmosphere of each room are made conducive to the purpose it serves. So too for the
purpose of meditation, worship and prayer, we should have a conducive atmosphere - hence
the need for a prayer room.
Sacred thoughts and sound vibrations pervade the place and influence the minds of those
who spend time there. Spiritual thoughts and vibrations accumulated through regular
meditation, worship and chanting done there pervade the prayer room. Even when we are
tired or agitated, by just sitting in the prayer room for a while, we feel calm, rejuvenated
and spiritually uplifted.

Why do we light a lamp?

1. Why do we light a lamp?


In almost every Indian home a lamp is lit daily before the altar of the Lord. In some houses it
is lit at dawn, in some, twice a day – at dawn and dusk – and in a few it is maintained
continuously - Akhanda Deepa. All auspicious functions commence with the lighting of the
lamp, which is often maintained right through the occasion.
Light symbolizes knowledge, and darkness - ignorance. The Lord is the "Knowledge Principle"
(Chaitanya) who is the source, the enlivener and the illuminator of all knowledge. Hence
light is worshiped as the Lord himself.
Knowledge removes ignorance just as light removes darkness. Also knowledge is a lasting
inner wealth by which all outer achievement can be accomplished. Hence we light the lamp
to bow down to knowledge as the greatest of all forms of wealth.
Why not light a bulb or tube light? That too would remove darkness. But the traditional oil
lamp has a further spiritual significance. The oil or ghee in the lamp symbolizes our vaasanas
or negative tendencies and the wick, the ego. When lit by spiritual knowledge, the vaasanas
get slowly exhausted and the ego too finally perishes. The flame of a lamp always burns
upwards. Similarly we should acquire such knowledge as to take us towards higher ideals.
Whilst lighting the lamp we thus pray:
Deepajyothi parabrahma
Deepa sarva tamopahaha
Deepena saadhyate saram
Sandhyaa deepo namostute
I prostrate to the dawn/dusk lamp; whose light is the Knowledge Principle (the Supreme
Lord), which removes the darkness of ignorance and by which all can be achieved in life.