GAUDIYA VAISHNAVISM TILAK
GAUDIYA VAISHNAVISM TILAK The renaissance of Vaishnavism began in the early 1600s as Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486-1534 CE) started his bhakti-movement in West Bengal in the district of Nadia. Sri Chaitanya practically founded his own tradition. In the Gaudiya Vaishnava Sampradaya the tilak is usually made out of mud from Vrindavan. In Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's line, chanting is given as the essential devotional (bhakti) activity to be performed in Kali Yuga in preference to fire sacrifices. As such, the black line made from the ash of the fire sacrifice is not included. In the Gaudiya line devotees generally approach Radha and Krishna through a servant such as Tulsidevi. To indicate this, the red dot representing Radha is replaced with a tulsi leaf offered at the base of Krishna's feet. In Gaudiya belief only through the mercy of Tulsi (or another pure devotee) can pure devotion to Radha and Krishna or Krishna and Balarama be awakened.