The Dzi bead is a well-known kind of ancient nepali jewellery material that is used for religious purposes in Buddhism and is found in Nepal, Tibet, Ladakh and Bhutan. Some believe that the beads were made by gods for luck. Others believe they bring protection from harm and that the beads choose their owners. It was believed that unlucky people were not destined to have Dzi beads for themselves.

The Dzi beads are available in a wide variety of shapes and colors and have specific meanings for each -- all of them magical. Most of the patterns you'd find on them are eyes, lucky symbols and images representing the gods. It can protect, cure and enhance whatever the owner wishes, and it releases all the negative energy from the surroundings.

The beads can be worn by themselves as a
pendant or in a string to make a bracelet or a necklace. Most Asian cultures are aware of the powers of the Dzi bead and believe that it can do good as amulets and talismans.

The most common patterns on the beads are ovals, squares, zigzags, circles, lines, stripes, diamonds and other geometric patterns that symbolize a certain power. They come in brown and black and the etchings are usually white.

There's a great mystery as to where the beads truly originated, which is why there has been a lot of counterfeiting going on in the Asian countries about the beads. Some beads are being sold in the markets outside the temple which don't really have powers but are sold for decorations and such. These kinds of transactions are believed to be void because the people believe that the beads can only harness their powers if they were given at a temple.