The word ‘’Nazar’’ is of Arabic origin. The literal meaning of nazar is sight or attention. However, it also refers towards the concept of evil eyes. People often believe in many different parts of the world that negative feelings like envy or jealousy can cause bad luck and misfortune, not only this, but many other harmful effects, like illnesses or other types of problematic situations.
You might have seen an eye-shaped blue bead amulet (nazar), which is used as a protective charm against it. This symbol is everywhere around the market, from dream-catchers to bracelets, even in your WhatsApp stickers. People generally believe that this amulet is to reflect negative energy to its source, protecting an individual, their loved ones, and their homes from bad luck.
Read More: Jealousy and Envy: Difference of feelings
Privacy is power: Times to ward off evil
People from various regions and different cultural backgrounds often seek to ward off the evil energy. Everyone wants to protect their loved ones and themselves from evil eyes, though this feeling takes a high tide during the times of vulnerability, transitions, or high visibility. The different kinds of actions that people take during these circumstances are also known by the popular name of ‘’apotropaic magic’’. It’s basically intended to turn away harm, bad luck, or various other types of malevolent forces. The high times that people need to ward themselves from the evil eyes have been listed below:
1. The feeling of being unwell or low
When a person gets a sudden feeling of being unwell, exhausted or especially low in energy in middle-class households theirs a common practice called ‘’nazar utarna’’.Typically, ways and rituals like salt circling are performed. This sudden feeling of sickness is believed to be caused by the negative energy that is generated by other people when they feel envy and jealousy towards you.
2. After being the centre of attention
Newborn babies’ faces aren’t typically revealed to the neighbours and the wider circles of connection in our country, for at least the time period of a month. Elders believe that babies are pure souls and that negative energy is attracted towards them. Not just in babies, but when a person, particularly a child, is admired or praised, it’s believed to attract evil eyes. A common practice in Indian households is applying a black dot ( kajal ) to seek protection.
3. During achievements and new beginnings in a career
While buying a new home to cleanse the space of previous negative energy and also to protect it from any kind of harm in future practices like hanging chillies and lemon or horoscopes, even salt lines are used typically, a new vehicle, starting a new job or on auspicious occasions like getting married. These are the times when people should try ways to ward off the evils.
Read More: The Illusion of Control: How Horoscopes Reduce Uncertainty and Anxiety
4. At social gatherings
While attending social gatherings of any kind and meeting strangers, people should have their guards on! The evil eyes don’t need to come from only the people who hate you or want to see your downfall desperately. At times when your loved ones don’t feel included in your happiness or see you have when they can find a place they can easily. Gatherings are especially the prime time for absorbing negative energy or attracting evil eyes, as they are fully packed with people. This makes the cleansing highly essential.
5. Encounters with sudden fear and vulnerability
When one suddenly feels the fear of something like an event that you surely don’t want to take place. Experiencing vulnerability in life or various other negative emotions, such as moments when one is more susceptible to negative influence upon them.
6. During cultural and religious holidays
Times of festivals like Diwali, Holi, and especially Samhain, which is the origin of Halloween, were historically considered moments when the doorway to the otherworld opened, requiring protection against evil spirits.
Building a shield against nazar
1. Talisman
An object that is believed to have magical powers and to bring good luck towards a person. This object is held to act as a charm to avert evil and bring fortune.
2. Nazar battu
A nazar battu is also a kind of traditional Indian talisman or charm. It often features black and red colours and works to ward off the evil eyes and all types of other negative energies that tend to be present in the environment near the person who holds the nazar battu. It protects homes, businesses, vehicles and people. Often seen on wall hangings, jewellery or decorative items. It commonly looks as mask or even shaped like an eye.
3. Performing cleansing rituals
These types of rituals are believed to be an effective way to remove negative energy or the effects of evil eyes. Light a camphor or sage stick and let the smoke cleanse the space and the people present there.
4. Gemstone protection
In many cultures and spiritual beliefs, some specific gemstones are thought to ward off evil energies and protect people from many other negative emotions. Gemstones like black tourmaline, turquoise, malachite, onyx and ruby are among the popular names of gemstones that hold such powerful properties.
5. Prayers and mantras
Praying mantras is widely believed in many traditions to ward off evil by creating a protective spiritual shield, purifying the mind and raising the amount of positive energy in the environment, which connects people with the divine powers. Some mantras like: om namah shivaay and hanuman chalisa are used to repeal negative energy and cleanse the aura while providing inner strength against harm.
Read More: Yoga and Meditation Practitioners Deal with Negative Emotions More Effectively
6. Surrounding yourself with positivity
Positive energy can act as a powerful shield against evil eyes. Surround yourself with people who radiate positivity and avoid a negative and toxic environment.
7. Self-care and self-love
Taking care of oneself and practising self-love can strengthen your energy and protect you from evil eyes. People should try to do more of those things that bring joy to them and peace of mind. For example, meditation, yoga, and spending time in nature.
References +
Psychology Today www.psychologytoday.com Does the evil eye exist?
Indian Journal of Scientific Research www.ijsr.in A study of evil eye.
