Different groups use different types of tilaks. It depends on what they believe and which religion they belong to. People who respect Bhagwan Krishna apply tilak on their forehead to show how much they love him. The Vaishnava sect, which emphasizes the worship of Bhagwan Krishna, is divided into Brahma Sampradaya, Kumar Sampradaya, Rudra Sampradaya and Sri Sampradaya.
❀
Vishnu Tilak
Vishnu Tilak is worn by people who believe in Bhagwan Vishnu. It is made of Gopi sandalwood and has straight lines that look like the letter "U". This tilak looks like the foot of Bhagwan Vishnu. There may be a line in the middle, but that is not always the case.
❀
Brahma Sampradaya Tilak
This includes the Madhava sect and the Gaudiya sect. Gopichandan, which you can get from Dwarka, is used in the Madhva sect to draw two vertical lines that look like the lotus feet of Bhagwan Krishna. Between these two vertical lines, you can make a black line with the coal ash left over from the Yagya. In Gaudiya Sampradaya you can use the soil of Vrindavan to make two straight lines. They look like the soft feet of Bhagwan Krishna. You can connect these two lines on the bridge of your nose in the shape of a leaf of Tulsi, Bhagwan Krishna's favorite plant.
❀
Tilak of Bhagwan Shiva
People who believe in Shiva apply a different type of tilak. You will see Tripundra, which is three horizontal lines. People say that Shiva is very fond of the sacred ash or bhasma used in making this tilak. Some lines have a red dot, but not all. Another way to show that you are a Shiva devotee is to wear the crescent moon on your face. It represents the moon which Shiva holds on his head.
What is the reason behind applying tilak?
❀
Kumar Sampradaya Tilak
In Kumar Sampradaya Tilak, Gopichandan is used in making Tilak. You can start at the bridge of your nose and draw two vertical lines that meet in the middle of your forehead to form a U shape. In the middle you can put a black dot made of slate obtained from Barsana. This shows that Krishna and Radha are at the same time.
❀
Rudra Sampradaya Tilak
Here the tilak is a single line going up and down. The red color of the tilak comes from kumkum, an image of the goddess Yamuna. In the Rudra sect, Govardhan is considered to be a form of Bhagwan Krishna.
❀
Shakti Tilak
People who believe in Shakti apply a dot of kumkum on their forehead. This bindi represents the powerful power of Mata Parvati.
❀
Sri Sampradaya Tilak
In Shri Sampradaya Tilak you can use white soil of anthill to make two lines. You can also use the soil under the basil plant. You can create a red line in the middle by using red stones in the anthill. It is the symbol of Goddess Lakshmi Devi.
❀
Raj Tilak and Veer Tilak
Raj Tilak and Veer Tilak are also of different types. At the coronation, coronation is a part of the event where a new king is crowned. The name "Veer Tilak" was used to describe brave people or to help people perform well in any task. Hindu beliefs say that tilak is applied before starting anything new as a sign of good luck.
Tilak is a Hindu tradition that has been going on for a long time. In Shaivism, the use of sacrificial smoke is associated with how death is depicted. It also shows how useless it is to hold on to material things because they are temporary. Applying a tilak to your third eye can awaken your Ajna Chakra and make it easier to connect with your full self. A tilak can help you clear your religious and spiritual path.