Applying Vaiṣṇava Tilaka
A detailed traditional Vaiṣṇava tilaka guide with preparation, application method, diagram, twelve places, Devanagari, IAST and names of the Lord.
This guide is offered as a practical devotional aid for personal sādhana. It does not replace the guidance of guru, sādhus, śāstra, local ISKCON authorities, temple pūjārīs, or senior Vaiṣṇavas. For formal Deity worship and temple service, please follow your local authorized standards.
This page presents a traditional Vaiṣṇava practice as a learning aid, not as a rigid rule for every visitor. Learn the form and procedure from experienced Vaiṣṇavas.
Preparing and applying tilaka
- Perform ācamana and sit in a clean place.
- Pour a little clean water into the left palm, rub gopī-candana in the water until a smooth paste forms.
- Touch the paste with the right ring finger and apply the forehead tilaka upward, forming two straight thin parallel lines.
- Apply the mark on the nose from the bridge downward, joining the forehead lines without a gap.
- Use a mirror while learning so the mark is neat and respectful.
- Apply tilaka to the other eleven places, remembering the corresponding name of the Lord.
Twelve places and mantras
- Foreheadॐ केशवाय नमःoṁ keśavāya namaḥ
- Belly, above the navelॐ नारायणाय नमःoṁ nārāyaṇāya namaḥ
- Chestॐ माधवाय नमःoṁ mādhavāya namaḥ
- Throatॐ गोविन्दाय नमःoṁ govindāya namaḥ
- Right side of the bellyॐ विष्णवे नमःoṁ viṣṇave namaḥ
- Right armॐ मधुसूदनाय नमःoṁ madhusūdanāya namaḥ
- Right shoulderॐ त्रिविक्रमाय नमःoṁ trivikramāya namaḥ
- Left side of the bellyॐ वामनाय नमःoṁ vāmanāya namaḥ
- Left armॐ श्रीधराय नमःoṁ śrīdharāya namaḥ
- Left shoulderॐ हृषीकेशाय नमःoṁ hṛṣīkeśāya namaḥ
- Upper backॐ पद्मनाभाय नमःoṁ padmanābhāya namaḥ
- Lower backॐ दामोदराय नमःoṁ dāmodarāya namaḥ
Śikhā: Tilaka is not drawn on the śikhā. After washing the right hand, sprinkle the remaining water on the śikhā while chanting oṁ vāsudevāya namaḥ.