What is the symbolic meaing of the "red dot" on an indian female's

Question: What is the symbolic meaing of the "red dot" on an indian female's forehead!? I dont recall its meaning!.!.!.!.
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The dot or bindi also known as 'tika', 'pottu', 'sindoor', 'tilak', 'tilakam', 'bindiya', 'kumkum' and by other names!. Pronounced as 'Bin Dee', the word bindi is derived from the Sanskrit word bindu, which means "drop"!. Bindi is an auspicious ornamental mark worn by Hindu girls and women on their orehead between the two eyes !. Bindi is arguably the most
visually fascinating in all form of body decoration!. More than a beauty spot, the manga tika (bindi) indicates good omen and purity!.
Traditionally Bindi is a symbol of marriage, very similar to western wedding bands!. A red dot on the forehead is an auspicious sign of marriage and guarantees the social status and sanctity of the institution of marriage!. Bindi were worn by married women in North India in the form of a little red dot!. It denotes the woman's married status in most of the North Indian communities but in South India it is a prerogative of all girls to wear a bindi!. The bridegroom's make-up is incomplete without Tilak, it is applied on the groom's forehead during the wedding ceremony!. No festival or puja is complete without the tilak and sindoor!. Red was chosen because that color was suppose to bring good fortune into the home of the bride!. The red mark made the bride the preserver of the family's honor and welfare!. Over time, it has became a fashion accessory and is worn today by unmarried girls and women of other religions as well!. No longer restricted in color or shape, bindis today are seen in many colors and designs and are manufactured with self-adhesives and felt!. The very positioning of the bindi is significant!. The bindi is always worn on in the middle of the eyebrows, this is believed to be the most important pressure point of the human body!. This point is known by various names such as Ajna chakra, Spiritual eye, Third eye meaning 'command', is the seat of concealed wisdom!. It is the centre point wherein all experience is gathered in total concentration!. According to the tantric cult, when during meditation the latent energy rises from the base of the spine towards the head, this 'agna' is the probable outlet for this potent energy!. The red 'kumkum' between the eyebrows is said to retain energy in the human body and control the various levels of concentration!. It is also the central point of the base of the creation itself — symbolizing auspiciousness and good fortune!.

The traditional Kumkum (koom-koom), or Kungumam as it is called in Tamil Nadu, is made from dried turmeric!. The turmeric is dried and powdered with a bit of slaked lime, which turns the rich yellow powder into red color!.

The kungumam, which is made from the turmeric powder, is an auspicious symbol!. When a girl or a married woman visits a house, it is a sign of respect (in case of an elderly lady) or blessings (in case of a young girl) to offer kumkum to them when they leave!. However, it is not offered to widows!. When visiting a Hindu temple, married women from southern India usually dip their ring finger in yellow turmeric powder, and apply a dot on their neck!. Men, women, girls, and boys apply a dot on their forehead of red turmuric powder, also when visiting a temple or during a pooja!. In most of India, everyday, married women apply red kumkum in front of their parting on their forehead as a symbol of marriage!. This is called vermilion, or in Hindi, Sindoor!.

Kumkum is also widely used for worshiping the Hindu goddesses, especially Shakti and Lakshmi!.

The tilaka is decorative and is also an identifying mark!. Worn by a priest, ascetic, or worshiper it shows which Hindu tradition he follows!. It may be made with sandalwood paste, ashes (vibhuti), kumkum, sindhoor, clay, or another substance!. The pastes are applied to the forehead and in some cases to the upper part of the head!. Tilakas are also discussed in the Vasudeva Upanishad!.

Different Hindu traditions use different materials and shapes to make the tilaka!.

Saivites typically use ashes and draw their tilakas as three horizontal lines (tripundra)!.
Vaishnavas apply clay from a holy river or place (such as Vrindavan or the Yamuna river) which is sometimes mixed with sandalwood paste!. They apply the material in two vertical lines, which may be connected at the bottom, forming either a simple U shape or with an additional marking in the shape of a tulsi leaf!. Their tilaka is called the urdhva-pundra!.
Ganapatya use red sandal paste (rakta candana)!.[2]
Shaktas use kumkuma, or powdered red turmeric!. They draw one vertical line or dot!.
Honorary tilakas (Raj Tilak and Vir Tilak): They are usually applied as a single vertical red line!. Raj Tilak will be used while throning kings or inviting prominent personalities!. Vir Tilak is used to anoint victors or leaders after a war or a game!.

[edit] Use by women

Indian woman with tilaka and bindiHindu women have been using Tilaka for many millennia!. The tilaka are worn as a beauty mark by women of all faiths, with no adherence of Hindu belief!. They generally use dots (bindi) rather than the lines and larger marks worn by men!. The term "Bindi" seems to be more often used for beauty marks!.

The bindi can vary from small to large!. Sometimes the terms sindoor, kumkum, or kasturi are used, by reference to the material used to make the mark!.

Married Hindu women may also wear additional Tilaka between the parting of the hair above forehead!. This mark serves to indicate marital status!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

In India the original significance was that the woman is Hindu, married and has a living husband!.
Now many women of other religions also wear it as do some Hindu widows!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

It's called a "bindi"!. Traditionally, it's worn as a way to retain and strengthen the mind!. Go to Wikipedia for info - http://en!.wikipedia!.org/wiki/Bindi_(deco!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com