Urdhva Pundra tilak or Udharva Marka is a yellow U mark on the forehead made with chandan and a red dot in the centre usually made out of kumkum

Kumkum

Kumkum , is a powder used for social and religious markings in Hinduism. It is either made from turmeric or saffron...

 (saffron) worn by members of the Swaminarayan Sampraday

Swaminarayan Sampraday

Swaminarayan Sampraday , known previously as the Uddhav Sampraday, is a Hindu sect established by Swaminarayan...

. The yellow U mark signifies the Swaminarayan's feet, while the red dot signifies Lakshmi

Lakshmi

Lakshmi or Lakumi is the Hindu goddess of wealth, prosperity , light, wisdom, fortune, fertility, generosity and courage; and the embodiment of beauty, grace and charm. Representations of Lakshmi are also found in Jain monuments...

. Urdhva Pundra tilak has been mentioned in the Shikshapatri

Shikshapatri

The Shikshapatri is a religious text consisting of two hundred and twelve verses, written in Sanskrit by Bhagwan Swaminarayan. The Shikshapatri is a key scripture to all followers of the Swaminarayan faith and is considered the basis of the faith.The Shikshapatri was written in Vadtal on February...

 and Brahmanda Purana

Brahmanda Purana

The Brahmanda Purana is one of the eighteen Mahapuranas, a genre of eighteen Hindu religious texts and has been assigned the eighteenth place in almost all the lists of the Puranas.Brahma in Sanskrit means "the biggest", anda/andam means globe...

. The Urdhva pundra tilak is done during puja in the morning, and it is a commandment of Swaminarayan for all Swaminarayan followers

Satsangi

A follower of Swaminarayan is referred to as a Satsangi . There are eight important things in the life of a Satsangi.-Kanthi:Lord Swaminarayan instructed his followers to wear a double stranded kanthi to symbolise Krishna and Radha...

. Female only do the red dot with kumkum without the U mark.

Application and Significance

The tilak or chandlo is done on chest and arms whilst chanting the mantras Vasudeva

Vasudeva

In Hindu itihasa , Vasudeva is the father of Krishna, the son of Shoorsen, of the Yadu and Vrishni dynasties. His sister Kunti was married to Pandu. He was a partial incarnation of Rishi Kashyap....

, Shankarsharna

Shiva

Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...

, Pradyumna

Pradyumna

Pradyumna is a form of the Hindu god Vishnu. He is one in 24 Keshava Namas , praised in all pujas. It is also the only name in Sanskrit with all the 3 letters joint...

 and Aniruddha

Aniruddha

Aniruddha , meaning "uncontrolled" or "without obstacles", was the son of Pradyumna and the grandson of Krishna. He is said to have been very much like his grandfather, to the extent that he may be a jana avatar. The four important Vishnu extensions are Vasudeva, Sankarsana, Pradyumna, and...

. According to the Brahmanda Purana, the colours and manner of application of the tilak are significant: "A black Tilak will derive peace; a red Tilak will bring obedience and control; a yellow one will bring wealth; one which is white will deliver devotion to Vishnu

Vishnu

Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....

; a Tilak of correct size, marked using one’s fingers will offer the god’s support and blessing; a Tilak in the centre of the forehead will bring youth and long life; the Chandlo made using the third finger (Anamika) will deliver joy; and a bounded Tilak will ultimately bring salvation". The Tilak should be marked with the correct finger making sure that the nail of the finger does not come into use when marking.The mark is known as(by the Swaminarayan followers),a Tilak-Chandlo. They apply the mark every day during their puja;a ritual done in the morning after bathing and brushing teeth.

Importance and forms

The importance of tilak is mentioned in the Atharvana Upanisad, Maha Upanisad, Brahmanda Purana and Padma Purana

Padma Purana

Padma Purana , one of the major eighteen Puranas, a Hindu religious text, is divided into five parts.In the first part of the text, sage Pulastya explains to Bhishma about religion and the essence of the religion. The second part describes in detail Prithvi...

 among other scriptures. The Vaishnava Sampraday, Vallabha Sampraday, Madhva Sampraday and the Gaudiya Sampraday too have their own form of the tilak.

External links

• Daily Pooja, Interactive learning