Sri Krishna Kathamrita

Tav k QaaMa*Ta& TaáJaqvNaMa( tava kathāmta tapta-jīvanam BBBiiinnndududu Issue No. 96 Fortnightly email mini-magazine from Gopal Jiu Publications 5 February 2005 Śrī a-ilā Ekādaśī, 11 Madhava, 518 Gaurābda Circulation 1,705

• FORBIDDEN TO WEAR TILAK From a story told by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada • TWICE BORN INITIATES SHOULD ALWAYS WEAR TILAKA Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur’s Śrī Caitanya-Bhāgavata, ādi-khaa 15.5-15

YMBOL OF NSHAKEABLE AITH Highlights

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a devotee should at least put water tilaka on Highlights FORBIDDEN TO WEAR TILAK his body in the morning and consecrate his From a story told by PAGE ONE TOP COLLUMN TWO body with the names of Vishnu. But if the His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada paraphernalia is permitted, then a devotee should not unnecessarily do away with the There was once a factory in India dress or beads of a vai ava. where all the workers were Hin- — Srila Prabhupada Nectar, chapter 3, number 6. Satsvarup dus and mostly vai avas. The Das Goswami. Gita Nagari Press. 2003. vai avas had freedom, there- fore, to wear their vai ava tilaka TWICE BORN INITIATES to work, and they also displayed SHOULD ALWAYS WEAR TILAKA other vai ava paraphernalia. Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur’s After some time, however, the factory went Śrī Caitanya-Bhāgavata, ādi-khaa 15.5-15 to new management and the new proprietor With Purports of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta was a Muslim. On taking over the business, Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada the Muslim owner declared that he would no longer allow the workers to come to work TEXTS 5-8 wearing vai ava tilaka. Most of the workers Mukunda Sanjaya was the obeyed, and on the given date announced by Lord’s servant for many lifetimes. the owner, they appeared at the factory with- His son was known as out their tilaka. One employee, however, Purushottam Das. Gaura- thought that he would take his chances and chandra daily went to teach depend on Ka, so he went to work wear- at the house of this fortunate ing very clear, white, vai ava tilaka. After person. The Lord arrived first and sat in the seeing all the workers assembled, the new ca ī-ma apa. Thereafter the students would Muslim proprietor said, “This one devotee gradually arrive there. During this period, who has worn vai ava tilaka is very coura- sometimes by chance a student would forget geous. He may be permitted to continue wear- to mark his forehead with tilaka. ing the tilaka to work, but all others are for- PURPORT bidden to wear it any more.” The word tilaka refers to when a person who In this way, Prabhupada encouraged the is initiated as a vai ava marks twelve parts devotees to not unnecessarily abandon the of his body above the waist — his forehead, markings of a vai ava. Where situations stomach, chest, throat, right waist, right arm, forbid it, Prabhupada said that it was not right shoulder, left waist, left arm, left absolutely necessary to wear tilaka, although shoulder, upper back, and lower back — as

next column !!! !!! Issue Nienty-six, Page — 2 é[q k* ZNarada Muni That is why the Lord, who is jagad-guru, the in Padma Purā a: “If one performs sacrifice, teacher of everyone, gave such instructions gives in charity, undergoes austerity, studies in His childhood pastimes. If one wants to the Vedas, or offers oblations to the forefathers worship Lord Vishnu, then he must accept without putting on tilaka, then all these the five saskāras related to initiation. activities will be useless. If a person does not Generally, a twice-born undergoes ten kinds decorate his body with tilaka, he is not to be of saskāras. Those who are lower than the seen, because his body is as impure as a twice-born undergo fifteen types of saskāras crematorium.” It is mentioned in the Āditya to become vai avas. Just as a brāhma a is Purā a: “A king should put a fallen brāhma a obliged to maintain a pure brāhma a thread, whose body is devoid of vai ava marks of an initiated vai ava is obliged to maintain tilaka, conch, and wheel on the back of donkey śikhā, brāhma a thread, tilaka, and mālā. and drive him out of his kingdom.” It is stated For a description on how to apply tilaka, one in Padma Purā a, uttara-kha a: “A person should refer to the Hari-bhakti-vilāsa (4.66-98). who performs any activity like worshiping It is stated in Padma Purā a, uttara-kha a: “A deities without putting on tilaka achieves no practitioner should decorate his body with benefit. There is no doubt about it. Know for twelve marks while chanting the names of certain that a person who performs sandhyā the Lord such as Keshava.” The process for without wearing tilaka is simply demoniac decorating the twelve parts of the body with and surely goes to hell.” the twelve tilaka marks is as follows: Prohibition for wearing crooked or three- lined tilaka: It is stated in the Padma Purā a, lalāe keśava dhyāyen nārāya am athodare vak a -sthale mādhava tu govinda ka ha-kūpake uttara-kha a: “A person who wears three- lined tilaka instead of vai ava tilaka is the vi u ca dak i e kuk au bāhau ca madhusūdanam lowest of men. Because of breaking the rules trivikrama kandhare tu vāmana vāma-pārśvake for marking tilaka on the body, which is the śrīdhara vāma-bāhau tu h īkeśa tu kandhare abode of Lord Vishnu, such a person certainly p he ca padmanābha ca kayā dāmodara nyaset goes to hell.” It is stated in the Skanda Purā a: tat prak ālena-toyan tu vāsudevāya mūrdhani “A person should not wear crooked tilaka, ūrdhva-pu ra lalāe tu sarve ā prathama smtam even if he is about to die, nor should he chant lalāādi krame aiva dhāra an tu vidhīyate any names other than the holy names of Narayan. He should wear vai ava tilaka, When one marks the forehead with tilaka, he must remember Keshava. When one marks the lower using gopī-candana if available.” Elsewhere it abdomen, he must remember Narayana. For the is stated: “Learned persons know that there chest, one should remember Madhava, and when are prescriptions for the brāhma as and marking the hollow of the neck one should remem- devotees to wear vai ava tilaka, and other ber Govinda. Lord Vishnu should be remembered people should wear three-lined tilaka. If one while marking the right side of the belly, and sees or touches a brāhma a who has put on Madhusudana should be remembered when three-lined tilaka rather than vai ava tilaka, !!! !!! TopSri leftKrishna-kathamrita 3 Bindu top right 3 Issue Nienty-six,,, Page — 3 he should take bath with his clothes on. A The symptoms of tilaka as temples of Hari: vai ava should not wear three-lined tilaka “The mark of tilaka that starts from the nose rather than proper vai ava tilaka because and stretches up to the hair on the head with a such an act does not please Lord Hari.” In beautiful space in between the lines is called a the narrations about the month of Kārtika in temple of Hari. Lord Brahma resides on the left the Skanda Purā a, it is stated: “One should side, Sadashiva resides on the right side, and not see a person whose forehead is not Lord Vishnu resides in the middle of such a tilaka decorated with vai ava tilaka. If one happens mark. One should not apply anything in the to do so, he should immediately look at the middle.” The clay used for preparing tilaka is sun, for Lord Hari and Lakmīdevī reside described in the Padma Purā a as follows: “One within the tilaka.” It is stated in the Padma should collect clay for tilaka beneath flowing Purā a, uttara-kha a: “Marks of tilaka waters that have bathed Lord Vishnu. One can resembling a banyan leaf, a bamboo leaf, and also collect clay from the transcendental abode the bud of a lotus are most enchanting.” of Hari. One should devotedly collect clay from The glories of decorating the body with tilaka the Venkata Hill, from Sri Rangam, from Sri are as follows: “The beautiful vacant space Kurma-kshetra, from Sri Dwarka, from Sri within the mark of tilaka is the sitting place Prayaga, from Sri Nrisingha-kshetra, from Sri for Sri Lakmī and Sri Janārdana, the Lord of Varaha-kshetra, or from Sri Vrindavan [or any lords. Therefore, know for certain that the forest of tulasī] and then mix it with the water body marked with tilaka is a sanctified temple that has washed the lotus feet of Vishnu. In this of the Lord.” It is mentioned in the Brahmā a way one should decorate one’s body with such Purā a: “If a person who is impure, ill- tilaka and come before the Lord. O Maharaja behaved, and engaged in sinful activities, Ambarish, to minimize your sinful reactions, decorates his body with tilaka even with his just see one whose forehead is decorated with mind, he certainly becomes pure forever. One tilaka made of gopī-candana.” In the Skanda should mark one’s forehead with tilaka while Purā a, Dhruva Maharaja speaks as follows: “If seeing one’s face in a mirror or in water, but you see a person decorated with the tilaka marks never touch the tilaka with one’s fingernails.” of a conch and wheel, adorned with tulasī The rules and regulations for applying tilaka: mañjarīs on his head, and his limbs smeared It is stated in the Padma Purā a, uttara-kha a: with gopī-candana, then why should you fear “The most fortunate unalloyed devotees of sinful reactions? A vai ava should mark his Hari should decorate their bodies with marks forehead with attractive tilaka of clay collected of tilaka resembling the lotus feet of Hari with from the root of a tulasī plant. One should mark a vacant space between the two lines. They his forehead with gopī-candana and wear the should begin to mark from the tip of the nose garland that has been offered to the Lord. In up to the end of the forehead with tilaka or this way, one should decorate one’s forehead other suitable clay. The tip of the nose refers with one of the three kinds of tilaka. One should to three-quarters down the nose. One should also decorate his body with various shapes like draw two separate lines beginning from the Matsya and Kūrma and various weapons like middle of the eyebrows upwards.” The the wheel in order to please Lord Hari.” prescription for keeping space within the The Vedic injunction regarding applying tilaka: mark of tilaka: “A fallen twice-born who It is stated in the Hira yakeśīya branch of the applies tilaka without keeping a vacant space Yajur Veda: “A person who wears tilaka marks between the two lines certainly abandons Sri resembling the lotus feet of Hari becomes very Hari and Lakshmidevi, who reside within fortunate and dear to the Supreme Brahman, that space. There is no doubt that a fallen Sri Hari. A human being who wears tilaka with twice-born who applies tilaka without a space in the middle becomes eligible for keeping a space maintains the feet of a dog liberation.” In the Kaha branch of the Yajur Veda on his forehead. Therefore, O beautiful one, it is stated: “The great soul who after applying brāhma as and women should always mark tilaka meditates through mantras on Sri Vishnu, their foreheads with tilaka resembling two who holds a cakra, who is the Supreme Absolute sticks with a space between.” Truth, who is greater then the greatest, and who !!! !!! é[q k* Zsaints who resisted attempts by Muslim rulers Vishnu’s supreme abode, which is the ultimate to suppress Vaishnavism. Among these is goal of the devotees.” Bhagavan Das, a pupil of Yuta Khojiji and Shyamdas, who lived in Mathura. Priya Das TEXTS 9-15 As sanātana-dharma Himself, the Lord says that the Mughal emperor, noticing that establishes the principles of religion. In order many of his subjects were wearing tilaka and to protect people’s religious principles, He mālā, which he considered to be a refutation of would not tolerate any transgression. his authority, issued a proclamation to the effect The very moment such a delinquent would that no one should wear them. Many vai avas appear, the Lord would put him to such shame gave up wearing them for fear of losing their that he would never again come without first lives, but one devotee, Bhagavan Das, was so completing his morning worship. The Lord filled with the blissful ocean of bhakti that he would say, “O brother, why I do not see any tilaka dared to present himself before the emperor on your forehead? What is your explanation? wearing his tilaka and mālā. The emperor was The Vedas say that if a brāhma a’s forehead is so impressed and pleased by this display of faith not decorated with tilaka, it is as good as a and courage that he permitted Bhagavan Das crematorium. I can understand that you have to continue to reside in Mathura. It is also said not performed your daily worship. Therefore, that the saint subsequently founded a temple dear brother, your morning has become fruitless. dedicated to Harideva. Go back home and perform your morning duties A similar story is told about Biharinadeva (or again. Then you may return to study.” In this Biharina Das), a follower of Hari Das, though it way, all of the Lord’s students were conscientious is not related in Nijamatasiddhānta, a work about performing their religious duties. containing biographies of the ācāryas and saints of the sect. The emperor Akbar, who had a — English translation by Bhumipati Das. Edited and published by Pundarik Vidyanidhi Das. Vrajaraj Press. Vrindavan. 2001. reputation for broad-mindedness in religious matters, decided to test the faith of the vai avas. !!! He summoned them all to attend his darbār, but warned that none of them must appear wearing SRI KRISHNA KATHAMRITA BINDU a tilaka or mālā. Among the saints and mahantas, A free bi-monthly service provided by: Biharinadeva alone decided that he would Gopal Jiu Publications nevertheless present himself before Akbar c/o Sri Krishna Balarama Mandir wearing the signs of his faith. This was not on National Highway No. 5, IRC Village account of any egotism. It is said that Radha had Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India, 751015 appeared to him in a dream and told him not to Phone: (0674) 2553250, 2557026 be afraid. Accordingly, Biharinadev put on extra Email: [email protected] tulasī-mālās and enhanced his tilaka by smearing Website: www.gopaljiu.org it with his thumb so that it extended down to Subscriptions: [email protected] the tip of his nose. This is how the ascetic Gopal Jiu Publications is a branch of the Inter- followers of Hari Das account for their wearing national Society for Krishna Consciousness, of extra mālās and the fact that their tilaka is an Founder-Acharya His Divine Grace A.C. elongated version of that of the Nimbarka Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. sampradāya. At the darbār, Akbar proclaimed that Quotations from the books, letters, and lectures of His Biharinadev was foremost among the vai avas Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada on account of his steadfastness. ©Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. All other mate- rials, unless specified, © ISKCON Bhubaneswar/Gopal — Pages 40-41 of A.W. Entwistle, Vai ava Tilakas; Sectar- Jiu Publications. All rights reserved. Blanket permission is ian Marks Worn by Worshippers of Vi u. International Asso- given to redistribute Bindu in electronic or print form pro- ciation of the Vrindaban Research Institute. London. 1982. vided no changes are made to the contents.