BODY LANGUAGE: THE YOGIS OF INDIA & NEPAL
Vaishnava Applying Tilaka
A sadhu’s body is a display of his ascetic identity: his clothes or
nudity separate him from the populace, while his painted
markings, called tilaka, indicate his divine focus of devotion.
Ranging from a simple daub of color to complex patterns involving
the entire face and other body parts, basic tilaka designs mark a
sadhu's religious and sectarian affiliations but may incorporate
elaborate, individual variations. The vertical design of this sadhu's
tilaka shows him to be a Vaishnava, or follower of Vishnu, whose
gentleness is reflected in his devotees and their clothing of white or
yellow, the colors of purity and surrender.
After a sadhu bathes to purify the body, he applies the tilaka while
uttering mantras to sanctify his body, thus completing the ritual that
transforms the body into a vessel worthy of receiving divine power
and giving worship to God.
Sadhu Friendship
Mundane motives often mix with spiritual
aspirations when a person decides to join the
brotherhood of sadhus. Asceticism not only
offers a life devoted entirely to religious study
and the possibility of spiritual attainment, but
also one that is free from the social bonds of
family and the restrictions of caste. Boys in
early adolescence, like the young sadhus in
this photograph, can be adventurous in their
abandonment or simply practical, having few
other options if they are orphaned or
impoverished.
These two young Vaishnavas with colorful tilaka perhaps chose the life of a sadhu over that of a lower caste member, or a family tragedy may have forced them into this role. Regardless, they are better provided for and will have more opportunities than many of the poor and homeless in South Asia. Renouncing his birth family for one of the Hindu gods, a young sadhu adopts as his new family Vishnu, Brahma or Shiva as well as his guru and brother sadhus.
Textual Tilaka
While some sadhus value a more energetic and impressionistic
approach to tilaka, others value precision and complexity in their body
art, such as the ascetic pictured here, who has written sacred text, likely
mantra or hymn, across his face. This unique tilaka might be an act of
devotion to his tutelary deity, offering a prayer to Vishnu as part of his
daily activities. However, painting the efficacious syllables of an
esoteric mantra on the body might suggest more magical motivations.
Mantras have myriad meanings and uses, both public and secret,
including magical incantations for healing, invocations requesting the
presence of a god, primordial sounds of Creation and the Absolute,
and repetative prayer aimed at focusing the mind on a deity. During a
sadhu’s initiation, his guru imparts to him a powerful, personal mantra,
which is never spoken aloud. This mantra established the psychic
bond between teacher and student, through which guidance may be asked for and issued.
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