Faces of India – 352 Shaivite with Tripundra Marking on Forehead

Indian forehead markings or tilaka enable differentiation between the different sects of Hindu religion. I have shown you the religious markings of Vaishnavite here and here. For today’s Faces if India series I have a man having religious markings, Tripundra, of Shaivite sect on his forehead.

It is called Tripundra (Sanskrit: त्रिपुण्ड्र tripuṇḍra “three marks”). It consists of three horizontal lines on the forehead made from sacred ash. They also put a red dot on the lines, over them or below them, the position of which depends on the sect the individual belongs to.

This mark has spiritual meaning in Shiva tradition within Hinduism.

Indian forehead markings – Tripundra

I met this gentleman in my apartment. I requested him for this picture and he very willingly posed.

Faces of India

a series through which I intend to portray the various characters of my country whom I met during my travels. I bring back souvenirs, frozen moments from my travels, why not some memories of people I have met and interacted during the travels. Faces of India is a weekly series in my blog since MARCH 2011. See more here…