What does the Hamsa symbolize? I have always known that it is a symbol of protection,
but in writing this post I discovered many other interesting facets of the Hamsa.
It is a symbol dating back to
prehistoric times and is an universal sign of protection. The hamsa protects by
deflecting the destructive power of the evil eye. The evil eye represents the negative
energies that can arise from jealousy, hatred, and envy.
It is often made of something shiny or
reflective in order to reflect off the evil.
While used in numerous cultures, the word
Hamsa, meaning five, has additional symbolic meaning in the Jewish and Islamic
traditions.
In Judaism, it represents the five books
of the Torah for Jews. It also symbolizes the fifth letter of the Hebrew
alphabet, "Heh", which represents one of God’s holy names. It is
often thus called the Hand of God.
Many Jews believe that the five fingers
of the hamsa hand remind its wearer to use their five senses to praise God.
The Hamsa hand is also a popular talisman with Muslims, who
call it the Hand of Fatima, referring to the daughter of Mohammed. Fatima is described as a faithful, holy,
woman.
Also, to the Muslims, the Hamsa sometimes refers to the five
pillars of Islam, the foundation of Muslim life:
- Faith or belief
in Muhammad;
- Establishment of
the daily prayers;
- Concern for and helping
the needy;
- Self-purification
through fasting; and
- The pilgrimage to Mecca
The Hamsa means many things to many cultures, which is why it is one of my favorite symbols to use. See more of my designs which include the Hamsa HERE.
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