The question is what is the significance of tilaka, the mark on the forehead and why do different organizations have different kinds of tilaka? At a very root level, tilaka is a symbol. All religions have some form of symbols. In India, in the olden days, married women would always put a little bindi (dot) on their forehead or a bit of vermilion powder in the parting of their hair that would signify that they were married. So that other men in the society would recognize that and give them the due respect and would not court them. In other religions, there are different symbols. In sanatan dharma, there is janeu, in others there is mauli. In some religions there is a hat, in some there is a cap, in some there is a turban, in some there is a tuft like shikha.
So, these were symbols to signify (a) what you have committed yourself to for the rest of your life and 9b what is the thing that you stand by. What is it that you standby in your life? That those are the value you have subscribed to.
Listen to this insightful discourse by Om Swami to find our more.
view more