The Hamsa is an extremely famous symbol used in many countries around the world for the past 1800 years. It’s mainly used in jewelry and wall hangings, though sometimes it’s displayed in art.

For Hindus and Buddhists, it symbolizes the interplay of the chakras, the energy flow in the body, the five senses, and the mudras that effect them.

The name “Hamsa” (“Hansa” in Sanskrit, or “Al Khamsa” in Arabic) is from the Semitic root word for five, and is a very ancient symbol in the Middle East. Although it is an ancient symbol, the Hamsa is still popular today and is believed to possess magical powers of protection, happiness and prosperity.

In Buddhism, it symbolizes the chakras to a less extent, but the mudras are still important nonetheless.

Often times, the Hamsa is used to ward off what’s known as “the evil-eye”.

The evil eye is considered to be the sum of destructive energies that come from negative emotions in the world.