Tilaka

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tilaka

This site provides an erudite discourse on the origins of the word Tilaka. They also provide a scholarly discussion on different type of Tilakas which are used by the Hindus like the Saivites use three white chandan horizontal marks on their forehead known as tripundra. While the vaishnavas use clay from holy river banks to put their tilaka and put it in a U shape. Pick up such exclusive and appealing details from here.

http://www.hindunet.org/tilak/

This site gives you a myriad of information on Tilka which is very interesting. It tells you that tilakas may be of various colours but are usually vermilion. They seek to give a mythical and historical explanation for the use of vermilion tilaka by married Hindu women on their forehead and hair parting. They claim that in the Aryan society the bride groom used to put his blood on the forehead of his bride as a ritual of solemnizing the wedlock. It is from there that the tradition of vermilion or kumkum or sindoor tilaka has come to be mandatory for married women to use.

http://vedabase.net/cc/madhya/20/202/en1

This is a specialized treatment of the Tilakas used by the vaishnavas. It mandates the various places in the body. A pious vaishav must put a tilaka and the specific deity he should devote his prayers to while putting this tilakas. For example one should remember keshava or lord krishna while marking his own forehead with tilaka. This site also provides a list of mantras to be recited by the devotees while putting on these tilakas.

http://www.harekrishnatemple.com/bhakta/chapter6.html

This is another erudite discussion on the vaishava way of putting tilaka. But what makes this site special is that it gives a pictoral depiction of the places to put tilakas as well as iterates the hymns to be chanted while performing the ritual application of Tilakas. Definitely, a site worth a visit for devotees of Lord Krishna!

http://www.hinduism.co.za/tilak.htm

This is another learned sermon on the uses and ways of putting tilaka by Swami Shivananda. However, he provides us with some interesting bits of trivia about tilaka. He claims putting a chandan or sandalwood tilaka in the space between the two eyebrows which is known as Ajna Chakra. Sandal wood paste provides a cooling effect and helps you to concentrate and meditate.

http://www.shubhlagan.in/features_bindi.asp

This site describes the use of tilaka in Hindu society and especially amongst Hindu women in a clear and lucid manner. This site will informs you that tilaka especially the sindoor tilaka or vermillion mark put on by the Indian women, are emblematic of her marital status. For men tilaka traditionally signifies a good luck charm and that’s why in ancient times men used to put on tilakas on their forehead before setting out for warfare. Thus, get reminded of tilaka – the Indian ancient and tribal past.

http://www.aspiringindia.org/hinduism/
hindumythology/hindusymbols

This site tries to decipher the importance of tilaka as a Hindu symbol. It proceeds to tell us that according to Hindu scriptures a head without a tilaka is like a woman without a husband, a heart without mercy or a house without a well. Such was the importance of tilaka in olden times. It also elaborates on the different methods of putting tilaka.

http://www.chennaionline.com/style/Beautytrends/beautytips/bindi.asp

This site amalgamates the uses and importance of modern bindi and the ancient tilaka which is in fact variations of one another. In ancient times a bridegroom used to put his blood mark on the forehead of his bride during the nuptials. The prevalent tradition of married women putting a round red tilaka on their forehead called bindiya, sindoora tilaka or kumkum and can be a continuation of that ancient ritual. The myth is that these bindis or tilakas protect people from the evil eyes, another popular belief. Gather these beliefs.

http://hindutva.org/namaskar.html

This non profitable educational site aims at providing young Hindus a true knowledge of their culture and religion. This site provides informative discourses on tilaka. It tells you that tilaka literally is a mark and it is also know as Sindoora and Gandha or a pleasant smell. So it connotes that it is a mark with a pleasant smell. It tries to define the social, historical, religious and anthropological evaluation of the custom of Tilaka.

http://shop.indiainfo.com/product.php?attributeid=28061&refid=204&reftype=C

This is a site which provides you with the opportunity to buy sindoora tilakas form the comfort of your home. It enables the Hindu married women to indulge in the ultimate symbol of matrimony.