Curse

A (also called an imprecation, malediction, execration, malison, , or commination) is any expressed  that some form of  or misfortune will befall or attach to one or more persons, a place, or an object. In particular, "curse" may refer to such a wish or pronouncement made effective by a or  power, such as a  or gods, a spirit, or a, or else as a kind of  by  (usually ) or ; in the latter sense, a curse can also be called a hex or a . In many belief systems, the curse itself (or accompanying ) is considered to have some causative force in the result. To reverse or eliminate a curse is sometimes called "removal" or "breaking", as the spell has to be dispelled, and is often requiring elaborate rituals or prayers.

Types
The study of the forms of curses comprises a significant proportion of the study of both and. The deliberate attempt to levy curses is often part of the practice of. In, the Sage or  is believed to have the power to  (Āshirvada or Vara) and curse (Shaapa). Examples include the curse placed by Rishi Bhrigu on king Nahusha and the one placed by Rishi Devala. Special names for specific types of curses can be found in various cultures:


 * presents us with the jinx and crossed conditions, as well as a form of foot track magic which was used by Ramandeep, whereby cursed objects are laid in the paths of victims and activated when walked over.
 * and culture is the source of the belief in the, which may be the result of envy but or, more rarely, is said to be the result of a deliberate curse. In order to be protected from the evil eye, a protection item is made from dark blue circular glass, with a circle of white around the black dot in the middle, which is reminiscent of a human eye. The size of the protective eye item may vary.
 * , including the, speak in terms of (from hexen, the German word for doing witchcraft), and a common hex in days past was that laid by a stable-witch who caused milk cows to go dry and horses to go lame.

Egyptians and mummie
There is a broad popular belief in curses being associated with the violation of the tombs of corpses, or of the mummies themselves. The idea became so widespread as to become a pop-culture mainstay, especially in (though originally the curse was invisible, a series of mysterious deaths, rather than the walking-dead mummies of later fiction). The "" is supposed to have haunted the who excavated the tomb of , whereby an imprecation was supposedly pronounced from the grave by the  priests, on anyone who violated its precincts. Similar dubious suspicions have surrounded the excavation and examination of the (natural, not embalmed) mummy, "". While such curses are generally considered to have been popularized and sensationalized by British journalists of the 19th century, ancient Egyptians were, in fact, known to place curse inscriptions on markers protecting temple or tomb goods or property.

Objects
Cursed objects are generally supposed to have been stolen from their rightful owners or looted from a sanctuary. The is supposed to bear such a curse, and bring misfortune to its owner. The stories behind why these items are cursed vary, but they usually are said to bring bad luck or to manifest unusual phenomena related to their presence. was reportedly cursed by the murderer Thomas Busby shortly before his execution so that everyone who would sit in it would die.

As a plot device
Curses have also been used as in literature and theater. When used as a plot device, they involve one character placing a curse or hex over another character. This is distinguished from adverse spells and premonitions and other such plot devices. Examples of the curse as a plot device:
 * — Count Monterone places a curse on Rigoletto. Rigoletto blames the climactic death of his daughter on the curse.
 * — A dying curses the Montagues and Capulets with "A plague 'o both your houses." (Often quoted as "a pox on both your houses.")
 *  — Evil fairy ( in the Disney film) casts a curse on  to die on her 16th birthday.
 *  — A punishes a conceited prince by transforming him into a hideous beast.
 *  (and variants) - a mother curses her six (seven, twelve) sons into bird form, and their sister must sew magic shirts to reverse the transformation
 *  — was cursed to be human by day, but  by night.
 *  — Daniel Plainview was cursed by Eli Sunday through "blessing" of Daniel's oil rig and through "baptism".
 *  - Christine Brown was cursed by Sylvia Ganush to experience three days of torture, then the lamia will drag her to hell.
 *  - The Higashikata Family is cursed to have the turn into  at the age of 10.

= =