🪷 Vaishnava Tilak

Vertical sacred marks of the Vaishnava tradition — Urdhva Pundra, Namam, and more

Vaishnava tilaks are vertical marks representing the lotus feet of Lord Vishnu. The Urdhva Pundra (upward mark) is applied at 12 body points corresponding to the 12 names of Vishnu. Different sampradayas — Sri Vaishnava, Madhva, Gaudiya — have distinct forms using Gopichandana, Tiruman clay, and other sacred materials.