(
Hinduism)
(Sanskrit) clay of the Ganges used to decorate the body of a devotee. It resembles fullers earth. One applies it in order to both protect and decorate the body as a temple of the Lord. The most importan place to apply tilak is the forehead; in Vaishnava Hinduism tilak is shaped into two vertical lines joining at the brow, representing the footprint of Krishna.
More properly: tilaka.