Tilaka Vrata
Tilaka Vrata · tilaka vrata, “the vow of the forehead mark”
The Tilaka Vrata, also called the Saṃvatsara vrata, is kept by a woman or a man on Caitra śukla pratipadā, with the pūjā of Saṃvatsara, the year, in the form of a man made of flour. From that day on the forehead is adorned with a tilaka of candana every day. Bhagavān Śrī Kṛshṇa teaches it to Yudhishṭhira in the Uttara Parva of the Bhavishya Purāṇa (Chapter 8), and he says that Bhagavān Śaṅkara taught it to him long ago. Queen Citralekhā was the very first to take it, and at the sight of her tilaka the Yamadūtas turned back.
The vidhi
- Bathe at a river, a pond or at home, and perform tarpaṇa to the devatās and pitṛs.
- Come home and make a mūrti of Saṃvatsara in the form of a man from flour.
- Worship it with candana, flowers, dhūpa, dīpa, naivedya and the other upacāras.
- Doing pūjā and praṇāma while uttering the ṛtus and the months, pray to Saṃvatsara.
- Recite the mantra of Saṃvatsara, and wrap the image with cloth.
- Offer fruit, flowers, modakas and other naivedya.
- With joined hands pray: “By your grace may my year pass happily.”
- Give dakshiṇā to a brāhmaṇa according to capacity.
- From that day on, adorn the forehead with candana every day.
By the power of this vrata a woman or man gains excellent fruit. Bhūtas, pretas, piśācas, grahas, ḍākinīs and enemies flee on seeing the tilaka on the forehead.
The account of Citralekhā
Long ago there was a king named Śatruñjaya, and Citralekhā, his wife, of excellent conduct. She was the very first to take this vrata, with saṅkalpa, from the brāhmaṇas. By its power, after much of their age had passed, a son was born to them, and his birth gave them great joy.
The queen always kept the Saṃvatsara vrata and put tilaka on her forehead every day. Whoever came to her wishing to insult her was as if overcome on seeing her tilaka.
After some time a mad elephant killed the king, and their boy also died of a pain in the head. The queen was overcome with grief. The kiṅkaras of Dharmarāja came to take them. They saw Queen Citralekhā sitting near with the tilaka on, and at the sight of her they turned back. When the Yamadūtas had gone, the king became well, together with his son, and went on enjoying good enjoyments according to past karma.
The phala
“Mahārāja,” said Śrī Kṛshṇa, “this supreme vrata Bhagavān Śaṅkara taught me long ago, and I have told it to you.” The Tilaka Vrata takes away all sorrows. One who keeps it with bhakti enjoys the joy of the world for a long time, and at the end reaches Brahmaloka.
The index of the Bhavishyottara names the Tilaka Vrata among its vratas.
Sources
- Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapters 8, 208