Tilaka refers to the markings which Vaisnava devotees apply to their bodies, to remind themselves and others that we are all eternal servants of Lord Krishna. Krishna devotees generally make their tilaka from a cream-coloured clay called gopi-Chandan, obtained from a sacred lake near Dvaraka, Lord Krishna’s ancient city on the west coast of Gujarat. Krishna’s greatest devotees, the Gopis, once visited this lake. The upper part of this tilaka, shaped like the prongs of a tuning-fork, represents Lord Krishna’s footprint, and the leaf-shaped part on the nose represents a leaf of the Tulasi, Krishna’s favourite plant. Tilaka is applied to twelve parts of the body, and the twelve names of the Lord are recited with each application.

A detail for applying tilaka to all twelve places on the body can be found on the pack of Gopi Chandan.

Gopi Chandan is also used for bathing of Laddu Gopal Idol. It is used by many devotees as a soap.