That dot, about ¼ inch in diameter and often red in color, is called a bindi(pronounced bin-dee) and is worn for a number of reasons. The bindi is a facial adornment adopted by women around the world, though most particularly by Hindus (and sometimes by women of other religions) in India and other nearby countries.
It can be worn simply as a fashion statement, but this is not as common. It can also be adopted by Hindu women in parts of India as a sign that they are married. But the most significant use of the bindi is as a manifestation of spiritual practice.
The location of the bindi, above the nose and between the eyebrows, has significance for a couple of reasons. First, for practitioners in a variety of mystical religious traditions, the bindi is placed at the location of one of the seven chakras(pronounced Shah-kruhs). Chakras are seen as energy centers at key nerve locations in the body. Many who embrace the idea of chakras believe that if one of the seven becomes blocked, illness can follow. Thus, it is important to keep energy flowing through these nerve centers in order to keep us healthy.
The spot where the bindi is placed serves as the location of the sixth Chakra. The sixth is often referred to as the "Third Eye" chakra (more about the Third Eye in a moment). This chakra concerns issues related to intuition, imagination, wisdom, and the ability to make decisions.
But it is the idea of the "Third Eye" that may hold the most significance for Hindus. One of the primary concerns of Hinduism is finding a way to make a direct connection with the transcendent (as opposed to the concern with good and evil that is central to many Western religions). Hindus believe that there are many paths to follow in making a strong connection with God. One such path is the pursuit of wisdom.
And the place between the eyebrows where the bindi is placed has been recognized by Hindus as the seat of concealed wisdom. It is a focal point where all of our experience is gathered in total concentration.
According to one web site about Hinduism, the red mark on the forehead is said to retain energy in the human body and control the various levels of concentration. Some see this spot as the central point of creation itself-symbolizing auspiciousness and good fortune. The spot is often associated with the sacred utterance, "Om." Activation of the seat of wisdom can lead the person wearing the bindi to overcome egotism and the idea of the self as a separate entity in the universe.
The color red signifies honor, love, and prosperity. In creating a bindi, the wearer dips a fingertip in vermilion powder and, with skillful application, makes a nearly perfect red circle. And, even though the bindi is usually made of red powder, bindi's can be created using faux jewels (or real precious stones) affixed to the forehead.
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