Tilaka - Dr Priyabala Shah

This is an academic book about Hindu marks on the forehead and I got it from a most unlikely source - Brother Joseph. He gave it to me and told me it was an interesting book to read and I did.Published by the New Order Book Co, Ahmedabad, in 1985, it covers topics such as Tilaka the sect mark (Sampradaya), religious and spiritual significance of Tilaka, as a class mark, for women, materials to be used, as a beauty mark, as a charm spell, as part of worship, the different colours for Tilaka, Tilaka in scriptures and paintings and in Sanskrit literature and as a custom of tattooing.

There seems to be general agreement that the Tilaka was not form the Vedic age because the general notion seems to be that in those days people could see Gods directly but in the current Kali age we need idols and hence we need Tilaka. It has special marks to differentiate between Vaishnavas, Lakhmiji or Sri (Ramanuja), Seaaji (Madhavacharya), Mahadevji (Vallabhacharya), Sanakadika, Saivas, Saktas, Jainas, Charana Dasis, Satanis (Sudras also employed by Brahmanas to brand outcastes with the disc and conch of Vshnu), Ramanadis, Kabirpanthis, Kararis, Bab Lallis, Ramadasis, Vadagalais (accept Vedas as their own scriptures), Tengalais, Ganapatyas, Swami Narayana...each with their own brands and symbols. Whew!

Who can wear what Tilaka is given. Colours of tilaka correspond with the with the complexion of each varna, which was assumed to convey its general mental qualities - Brahmana (venerable), Kshatriya (merciless), Vaisya (merciful) and Sudra (vain). Different colours, patterns, number of lines for varnas. Women were on par with Sudras - cannot hear or read Vedas (outcastes are not even Sudras as most think - they cannot even think of the Vedas perhaps - they can only vote). Other interesting things are about how women should serve their husbands fully and they will go to heaven if they do all the right things. There was this thing about linga basavis or women of the lingam who bear a sign tattooed on their thighs and how the priests as God's chosen ones can take them as their mistresses and even brand them upon their completing their duties satisfactorily as a certification and wherever they go their wants will be abundantly supplied. How gracious of them!

And some other such interesting stuff. One can only wonder at the way these ideas have been practiced as organised religion and to see how these ideas are still being mischievously used politically. The book is very interesting and the author has presented it as truthfully and dutifully as one can and there is much to learn but then these aberrations in Hindu society come up and one wonders at how mischievous the interpretations have been and how some castes have given themselves greater privileges and some have been kicked down to hell - women and sudras - and below them, the out castes.

But thanks Brother Joseph.