In contemporary
Hindi, a term that denotes either a textual remark or a colored mark on one's
forehead (typically red vermilion).
These forehead marks are applied for a variety of reasons,
including decoration, 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 subordinate status).
The first of these two meanings is the word's original
meaning, while the latter is significantly more frequent in modern times.
The relationship between these two meanings might be the
idea that, much as a commentary ornaments and highlights a core text, a
forehead mark can do the same for the body.
