HAMSA, OM & EVIL EYE KEYRING IN SOUTH AFRICA

  The hamsa hand (Arabic) or hamesh hand (Hebrew) is an old and still popular apotropaic amulet for magical protection from the envious or evil eye. The words hamsa and hamesh mean "five" and refer to the digits on the hand. Om is a sacred sound and spiritual symbol, it refers to Atman (soul within self) and Brahman (ultimate realty of the universe). It is a mantra in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism The evil eye is a curse believed to be cast by a malevolent glare, usually given to a person when they are unaware. Many cultures believe that receiving the evil eye will cause misfortune or injury. Talismans created to protect against the evil eye are also frequently called "evil eyes". The idea expressed by the term causes many different cultures to pursue protective measures against it. The concept and its significance vary widely among different cultures, primarily in West Asia. The idea appears several times in translations of the Old Testament. It was a widely extended belief among many Mediterranean and Asian tribes and cultures. Charms and decorations with eye-like symbols known as nazars, which are used to repel the evil eye are a common sight across Greece, Turkey, Albania, Egypt, Iran, Iran, Israel, Morocco, Southern Italy (Naples), the Levant, and Afghanistan and have become a popular choice of souvenir with tourists. Dimensions        120 x 30 x 0.5 (w x h x d) Weight                26g