Thanks for bringing my attention to this comment contest...

Body painting is not new. There are so many motivations for decorating the body. It is done with jewelry, distinctive clothing, and sometimes painting or tattooing. For those who identify with temporary material body it is done for some sort of sense pleasure. The consciousness is "I am this body." And enjoying it is all there is.

On the other hand there is the transcendentalist who identifies with the spirit within the body. Sees the body as a covering or a vehicle. They also may sometimes paint the body. But the motivation is a little different. In meditation a Vaishnava yogi applies clay from a sacred river (called tilak from the River Yamuna) on specific locations on his or her body for protection.

Protection from what? And how will clay give protection?

Protection from illusion. From forgetfulness of their spiritual self. A kind of spiritual armor protecting the consciousness from distraction and gliding down into forgetfulness.

royalty free