Important Navarathri Resolution – Appeal to Sthrees (Women) by Maha Periyava

Mark on the Forehead

Among the incidents that are being practiced to welcome misfortunes, there is one more. Women not wearing ‘Thilak’ on their foreheads. Wearing ‘Thilak’ has been specified by SAstrAs as an absolutely necessary decoration for ‘KanyAs’ and married women. In addition to giving a luster to the face, the ‘Thilak’  brings in auspicious things.   There  is a ChakrA in the space between the two eye brows, called  ‘BrUkuti’. In order to concentrate and bring our mind to a single point, this place is used. Wearing a ‘Thilak’ at the correct place there, covers and  protects our good fortunes from being wasted. Today’s intellectuals say that it protects the ‘Energy Band’.

Kumkum  prepared from pure Turmeric is the best suited for ‘Thilak’. Married women (Sumangali) should wear it at the beginning of the parting of hair, in addition to the place between eye brows. That is the ultimate happiness.

The beginning of the parting of hair on the forehead is supposed to be the dwelling place for MahAlakshmi. (Adi Shankara) AchAryA has sung in Soundarya Lahari  that AmbAl is wearing a scarlet Kumkum in that place. Girls can wear ‘SAndhu’ (a black paste made from charred rice).

It is totally wrong to wear the various types of ready made ‘Thilaks’ in different colours, sold in the shops. The gum which is used on the back to make it stick to the skin is improper. During the course of time, it will result in some skin deceases. If it is gelatin, then fat of cows may be present in it. In that case it will make us an accomplice to commit the sin of cow slaughter.