Article by EIH Researcher and Writer
Anupam Tripathi
As a child, I was fascinated by many things (certainly not toys and cars). I was fascinated by rings, medallions, kadas, bracelets, etc. I found them really cool. I didn’t know, it was a lot more than just beautiful things. I remember once I asked my father to buy me a taveez (amulet) because a friend of mine at school wore it. I obviously didn’t get the taveez, but I did get a crescent moon necklace and guess what, I sported it like a newly purchased Mercedes. I didn’t understand why people wore taveez around their necks or arms. Was it just a fashion statement (don’t judge! A 10 year old asked this question) or something more? It’s never too late to solve old curiosities.
Amulets are ornaments or small jewels which, according to the owner, can protect against any type of evil, danger or disease. Pliny uses the word amulet for an object, which saves a man from trouble; medical or prophylactic treatments. Seligman is of the opinion that amulets have magical powers. It uses its power on behalf of the wearer to protect them from evil spirits or evil eyes. Crucifixes, garlic, coal, runes, lucky coins, and horseshoes are some of the amulets that have been used for centuries. Amulets are also considered lucky charms or mascots. The use of amulets was not limited to a place or a person. Their use was and still is universal. In India, the origin of amulets dates back to the Chalcolithic and Vedic period. Atharvaveda, a book devoted to magic spells, contains many references to different types of amulets and their properties. The term for amulet in Atharvaveda is mani At that time, amulets were made from different materials, such as shells, wood, gold, beads, etc. They were both offensive and defensive. It has used amulets to protect the immediate fulfilment of every wish. . It is filled with spells addressed to or invoking amulets. The exterior of the amulet is believed to represent the power of the sun and the earth. The amulets are believed to impart healing energies and positive vibrations to promote peace and prosperity in life.
According to ancient beliefs, the shapes of pendants are made in specific shapes with predefined standards that focus their power to defend the wearer. However, today the trust and beliefs associated with amulets are mostly prevalent in rural India. Southern states, especially Tamil Nadu, believe that gold amulets, especially charms, are a complete solution to all their problems. In the northern part of India, the common belief in the state of Himachal Pradesh is that an amulet connects the three worlds: the underworld, the world of humans and God. Amulets and talismans have a long and rich history in Islam. Dating back to the 11th century, the earliest surviving protective devices are talismanic scrolls containing Quranic verses, some of which are considered particularly protective and healing. They may also include amuletic designs, such as the six-pointed seal of Solomon. Numerous block-printed rolls of paper made in Egypt attest to the convenience and therefore relative availability of such objects ob in medieval times. Additionally, the fact that they were worn around the neck or attached to the body suggests that physical intimacy and contact were believed to unlock the blessings of the amulet, a latent energy known as baraka in Islamic traditions.
In addition to the Seal of Solomon, a variety of amuletic designs can be found in scrolls, prayer books, metal ware, textiles, and buildings throughout the Islamic world, particularly from the 15th century. In both real and unreal manuscripts, seal-like designs and pictographs are accompanied by text that informs worshipers that they can channel God’s blessings in the hope of achieving positive results, such as protection from the theft, drowning and even death. To activate the seals’ defensive baraka, these texts encourage owners to look at, touch, rub, kiss, clean and wear these items while praying and trusting in God. During the 19th and 20th centuries, amulets were also printed and offered. for sale in large numbers on the open market.
Reference
- https://ajammc.com/2021/04/30/amulets-and-the-body/
- https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/tali/hd_tali.htm#:~:text=Many%20Muslims%20believe%20that%20an,power%20to%20ward%20off%20evil.
- https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.mygoldguide.in/amulets-%25E2%2580%2593-ancient-belief&ved=2ahUKEwitgduc5dn2AhXCwjgGHRJEDN8QFnoECBMQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2TeyrZ2u-rkWsqhGvGz7BS
- https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.exoticindiaart.com/book/details/amulets-and-pendants-in-ancient-maharashtra-3rd-c-bc-to-3rd-c-ce-idd216/&ved=2ahUKEwitgduc5dn2AhXCwjgGHRJEDN8QFnoECCEQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2fEMTFBFl5Z93zf0qlI07N
