It is believed by some people, that a chiti (amulet) or dora in order to be effective, must not be touched with water.
The dora of the god Kāl-bhairav at Benares, which is made of silk thread with seven twists, is tied round the wrist of a patient in the belief that it cures illness.
A janjiro (black cotton thread with seven knots) of the god Hanumān is worn round the arm with the same belief.
Surakano, that is, twisted iron wire, consecrated by the worshipper of the goddess Machhu, is worn by the Bharvāds round the elbow or the wrist with the belief that it cures wind.
Those people whose children do not live long put silver anklets round their left legs in the belief that by so doing their life is lengthened.[63]
An amulet made of a piece of cloth is called dhāga.[64] It is either a piece of cloth used by a holy man, a piece of cloth containing a mixture of red lead and oil offered to the god Hanumān,[65] or a piece of cloth in which are wrapped up the things put into an amulet. The dhāga is either worn round the wrist or suspended from the neck.[66]
Amulets tied to the horns of pet animals such as cows, bullocks, horses, etc., are called dāmanās. Sometimes they are also suspended from the necks of these animals. They are made of the hides of sacred animals and are believed to protect the animals against the evil eye, evil spirits and magic.[67]
It is believed by some people that one can escape injury from an evil spirit by seating oneself in a circle or square drawn in and plastered with cowdung.[68]
Others hold that the circle must be drawn with the point of a sword.[68]
Some maintain that the circle cannot be a protective unless it is drawn with enchanted water, milk or sesamum oil.