Applying Urdhva-pundra-tilaka
Chant the following verses while rubbing gopi-candana in your right palm; then, while applying tilaka and clearing the middle space, chant the name of the appropriate form of the Lord.om kesavaya namah – forehead
om narayanaya namah – navel
om madhavaya namah – chest
om govindaya namah – hollow of the neck
om visnave namah – right abdomen
om madhusudanaya namah – right arm
om trivikramaya namah – right shoulder
om vamanaya namah – left abdomen
om sridharaya namah – left arm
om hrsikesaya namah – left shoulder
om padmanabhaya namah – upper back
om damodaraya namah – lower back
Alternatively, chant the verses given below one line at a time while applying the tilaka to the indicated places on your body. After each line of the verse, while clearing the space in the middle (where the Lord resides), chant the name of the appropriate form of the Lord. (Example: Chant lalate kesavam dhyayen and apply tilaka to your forehead; then chant om kesavaya namah and clear the space in the middle)
| When applying Tilak | When clearing centre | Position on body |
| lalate kesavam
dhyayen narayanam athodare vaksah-sthale madhavam govindam kantha-kupake |
om kesavaya namah om narayanaya namah om madhavaya namah om govindaya namah |
forehead stomach chest hollow of the throat |
| visnum ca daksine
kaksau bahau ca madhusudanam trivikramam kandhare tu vamanam vama-parsvake |
om visnave namah om madhusudanaya namah om trivikramaya namah om vamanaya namah |
right side right upper arm right shoulder left side |
| sridharam vama-bahau
tu hrsikesam tu kandhare prsthe ca padmanabham ca katyam damodaram nyaset |
om sridharaya
namah om hrsikesaya namah om padmanabhaya namah om damodaraya namah |
left upper arm left shoulder upper back lower back |
When one marks the forehead with tilaka, he must remember Kesava. When one marks the lower abdomen, he must remember Narayana. For the chest, one should remember Madhava, and when marking the hollow of the neck one should remember Govinda. Lord Visnu should be remembered while marking the right side of the belly, and Madhusudana should be remembered when marking the right arm. Trivikrama should be remembered when marking the right shoulder, and Vamana should be remembered when marking the left side of the belly. Sridhara should be remembered while marking the left arm, and Hrsikesa should be remembered when marking the left shoulder. Padmanabha and Damodara should be remembered when marking the back. [Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya 20.202, purport]
The sikha area is not marked with tilaka; rather, after washing the right hand, wipe the remaining water on your sikha while chanting om vasudevaya namah.
Sometimes devotees also like to decorate their bodies with the names of the Lord or pictures of the Lord’s feet. For this metal stamps that are purchased in India are used.
