Hamsa hand

Hamsa hand

What is the Hamsa hand?

Hamsa hand is a talisman used in Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Jainism as well as in other religions found across the world. It is a traditional symbol used for warding off evil spirits, especially evil eye and bringing prosperity, happiness, and good luck in lives. Hamsa is a hand-shaped symbol consisting of a right-handed palm and five or fewer fingers around it. Fingers are in the form of three, one and one means three digits in the middle and one of the fingers on each side of them. Three middle fingers are equal in size and may or may not contain a space-gap between them. Each peripheral finger is mostly a thumb-shaped and flattened apart. Hamsa has different names in different cultures and religions depending upon the personality to whom it is associated. Each religion has its nature, which is mostly a female associated with that symbol. In Judaic culture, it is called the hand of Miriam, in Christianity, the Hand of Mary, and in Islam, it is the hand of Fatima. Similar names have given in other cultures like Khamsa, Hamsa, Hamza, Hamesh, etc. But its use is every day in all religions and cultures, and that is for keeping ‘evil eye’ away from the lives of bearers and bringing in happiness, good luck, and charm. It has used by people in different forms and ways to protect and to collect magic for themselves. The most common method is using it in jewelry and wearing items. For example, many people use it in the form of bracelets, pendants, and rings, etc.

Hamsa hands in Bracelets

The hamsa hand has widely used around the world in the form of bracelets. And other jewelry items for protection and also as a fashion due to its elegant design and shape. Bracelet of Hamsa hand consists of a chain in single or two pieces and a hamsa sign attached to the chain. The Hamsa hand symbol that has used in bracelets is usually of smaller size. There are several symptoms, and things have connected on the hand according to religion and culture it is being used. In Judaism, there is a sign of an eye attached to the palm. It has considered a protective body against the evil eye. ‘Evil eye’ is a concept that thinks of the eye as a living organ and responsible for any heinous act happening to a human being. Among other signs and diagrams drawn on the palm of Jewish hamsa is a symbol resembling a fish. Fish has also considered a sacred body in Judaism. Some Hebrew words have also engraved on hamsa hands used in bracelets. In the Christian world, hamsa hand that has applied for bracelets always contains a sign of the eye whose purpose of the use is similar to Judaism. There are some other objects like fishes, the holy cross etc.are found. Using hamsa hand in Christianity represents a belief that it is the hand of mother Mary, and she would offer protection to everyone who uses it. Frequent use of hamsa in Christianity tells its importance as there are very few symbols other than holy cross that are considered sacred and have used in everyday life. In Islam, the hand has known as the hand of Fatima after the name of the beloved daughter of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Fatima is considered as an extraordinary personality in Islam and has included in Five ‘sacred bodies’of Islamic tradition. In Hinduism and Jainism, the hand and its five fingers are crucial as it has considered associated with five chakras and five senses of the human body. Hindu hamsa contains five pearls of beads related to these five chakras. A similar concept about the sacredness of hamsa hand has narrated in other religions of the world.

Hamsa hand bracelet is manufactured by using some of the precious metals like gold, silver, copper, and rose gold. But most commonly, silver is used in its manufacturing as the metal has considered as ‘the metal of purity and magical properties.’ Bracelets have made using a red color that is often the blood of sacrificed animals. The blue color has also used due to its association with goddess Ishtar of ancient Mesopotamia, who probably first used this symbol in her jewelry. Although frequent in each part of the world, women of Morocco mainly used it in their jewelry as it has also included in their national symbol. In some countries, the bracelets containing hamsa hand symbols are individually worn on Thursday, as Thursday has considered an essential day for magical acts and the attacks of the evil eye. So these bracelets are used for protection from corrupt bodies. Although hamsa bracelets have generally used for religious purposes, there is extensive use of them as fashion items around the world. Nowadays, very precious hamsa bracelets have manufactured that often contain expensive pearls and sometimes diamonds.