**Amulets are objects which are considered to have protective and healing power. People wear them or offer them to Gods to attain luck, cure of diseases or protection from evil powers. Many people in the past ages believed in amulets. They are of three types.**

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 *1. The type is worn or carried on the body*

*2. The type which is placed on the bed of a person*

*3. The type which has medicinal properties which can further be classified into external-immersed in bathing water which is believed to heal a sick person and internal- boiled and the broth thus formed which when consumed is believed to heal internally.*

 In most religious faiths, holy books also are still used as amulets by placing the book under the pillow of the sick person. Different religions have various types of amulets.

 a) The ‘tallis’- prayer shawl with fringed corners and knotted tassels, the parchment containing names of angels or torah passages placed in silver cases and worn on the body are examples of Jewish amulets.

 b) The crucifix is a strong symbol against spirits or devil according to the Christian religion. The rosary is used to pray for protection against evil. Each bead has a certain prayer attached to it. Medals of St.Christopher are hung in vehicles for a safe journey. These amulets mainly remind the Christians of God’s powers to protect them than the amulet itself. The St.Benedict medal, the holy water and the scapular of St.Michael, the archangel are examples of Christian symbols to ward off evil.

 c) Muslims have amulets called ta’wiz with chosen quotes from Quran, the holy book of Islam. Each situation demands a particular amulet which is worn.

Ancient Rome boasted of amulets in the form of precious stones, each associated with Roman God: Jupiter-Chalcedony, Mars- Red Jasper, Ceres-Green Jasper and Bacchus on Amethyst. Gold boxes which contained sulphur were hung on the neck. Various icons like dogs, ravens, dwarfs and open hand were also used in the Roman era. Egyptian amulets were mostly in the form of animals. They were worn as necklaces or placed in rings.

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 Indians use amulets like the holy ash which is smeared on the forehead as a protection against evil eye or ghosts. The women wear sindoor[red] or bindi on their forehead to protect their husband’s life. Mantras are inscribed on silver or gold foil and enclosed in silver cases and worn around the neck, hand or waist to protect against evil eye. This is called a Raksha. **The recitation of the Gayatri mantra is also an amulet and protects the person as well as the universe. The recitation of mantras should be correct to avoid backfire though.**

![indian-woman-1084250__340.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmRRSm1q45kC5uyQZg8BurTwyTJHts1X8EkCGPbmuVKNXd/indian-woman-1084250__340.jpg)


 Different cultures have different forms and types of amulets ranging from the four-leaf clover to the jackal’s horn in the east. Amulets are mainly used to heal or ward off evil in the form of spirits and against the evil eye.

image source: pixabay

![U5dry8PwHEY127jKoVY1LtGC4B2baPN_1680x8400.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmZnsBJw4PRR1n6AUdvHXTHJvRMPZsBzYysdUyQoDEmxjv/U5dry8PwHEY127jKoVY1LtGC4B2baPN_1680x8400.png)

![U5dsUbHwBTpiZGVM3KNhX527ndLFuUf_1680x8400.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmPzv8G9MXbajgFo8RniS3av1ag4EZg8ZPxHS3pwe7hmcy/U5dsUbHwBTpiZGVM3KNhX527ndLFuUf_1680x8400.png)

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