Buddhist Gau - amulet, to be worn on the chest. Inside the ga, sacred objects are stored: texts with mantras , images of buddhas , relics of realized teachers.
Gau can have various sizes and shapes - rectangular, oval, round.
Gau is usually made of precious metals and stones. The outer side of the amulet was decorated with ornaments from stylized plants, sacred Buddhist symbols and mantras. Filling the Gau with relics is a special ritual that the lama performs, after which it begins to fulfill the function of protection and blessing for the one who wears it.
Nowadays, Gau are also used simply as decorative ornaments.