The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (2498 page)

(1856–1920).
Indian politician and patriot, who perceived the importance of religion in political matters, especially in relation to self-government. For his forthright articles in 1908, he was deported to Mandalay for six years. In prison in Mandalay he wrote his famous book
Srimad
Bhagavad G
t
Rahasya
(The True Import of the G
t
), which saw ‘the religion of the G
t
, combining spiritual knowledge, devotion and action’ as the foundation of India's revival. Tilak died on 1 Aug. 1920, and because the people came in such large numbers to pay their last respects to the national hero, the cremation took place at Chowpati Beach, Bombay.

 
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Tilaka
or pu
ra
.

Marks in Hinduism, made on the body, usually the forehead, to indicate caste or sect membership. The single spot of red, white, or yellow in the middle of the forehead is the sign of marriage. Lines of
ash
(pu
ra) are worn by male ascetics, three vertical lines in V formation for devotees of
Vi
u
, three horizontal lines for those of
iva
, twelve to different parts of the body for those of
r
-
K
a
.