The aim of this article is to provide the reader with information about Ghao (Gau) boxes (prayer boxes) which are often found in the form of a handmade silver locket.
Where do the Ghao boxes originate from?
Although used by many religions and beliefs, Gau boxes are believed to originate from the Buddhist or Hindu faith. However, many people wear them today not for religious purposes, but as a silver locket simply for their aesthetic appeal.
What are Ghao boxes commonly used for?
In religious circles, Ghao boxes are used to help the user focus their mind on prayer. This is done by writing a prayer on a small sheet of paper and then placed and sealed inside the prayer box. The Ghao box is also sometimes used to hold small religious objects.
Religious symbolism
Images of important religious teachers or deities are often made in the Ghao box, for example, Buddha in Gau Buddhist boxes. Important religious symbols are often incorporated into the Ghao box. In Buddhism, the Om symbol, or the Tibetan prayer wheel, is commonly found on the prayer box.
Ghao boxes as a non-religious silver locket
Ghao boxes are being used more and more by people who have no particular religious beliefs and are wearing them as jewelry pendants. The prayer box is often added to a necklace or bracelet and makes an attractive centerpiece for these types of jewelry.
Many non-religious Ghao box users have inspirational quotes or poems inside their prayer box. Others use them to store photos of their loved ones that can be passed down from generation to generation and often have great sentimental value to the recipient.
Many prayer boxes have some form of gemstone incorporated into the design, one of the most common being a turquoise gemstone. The gemstone has no particular religious significance, but it can add color and beauty to the Ghao box. Often someone purchases a silver locket containing the gemstone associated with the month of their birth to personalize the prayer box.
However, often the prayer box will not contain any gemstones and will be simply handcrafted like a simple silver locket inscribed with meaningful words or symbols.
What are Ghao boxes generally made of?
Ghao boxes can be made from a variety of different materials and can be found in a variety of prices. They are usually made of sterling silver, silver, gold, brass, copper, or lightweight materials. Sterling silver is by far the most common and, as mentioned above, it can often include a gemstone such as turquoise.
Prayer boxes are generally considered sacred by those who use them and therefore tend to be made of a precious metal such as silver (or sometimes gold).
Whether you’re looking for something to wear as a symbol of your religious beliefs, a source of inspiration, or just a beautiful piece of jewelry, a Ghao box may be just what you’re looking for.