Tika

In modern Hindi, a word denoting
either a commentary on a text or a colored mark (often red vermilion) on one’s
forehead. These forehead marks are
applied for various reasons: for sheer
ornamentation, to indicate sectarian
affiliation, or as an outward symbol of
having worshiped in a temple that day
(since a common element in this worship is to receive some of the vermilion
daubed on the feet of the deity’s image,
as a sign of grace and one’s subordinate
status). The former of these two meanings is the original sense of the word, but
the latter meaning is far more common
in contemporary times. The connection
between these two meanings could be
the notion that just as a primary text is
ornamented and highlighted by a commentary, in the same way a forehead
mark could ornament the body.