BELIEFS AND SUPERSTITIONS

 FROM SAMPATH’S DESK:

 

 

  BELIEFS AND SUPERSTITIONS

 

The beliefs of Indians necessarily mean those of Hindus as they have been the traditional inhabitants of the sub-continent for eons, even if some or many of them are followed by other communities too living in the country by virtue of their being part of the Indian society for long, and as age-old and long-cherished traditions, customs, and practices of their fellow-Indians.

 

Even though the words 'beliefs' and 'superstitions' seem similar and almost synonymous, still there is a trace and slender thread of inherent distinctive difference between them. While all superstitions are necessarily beliefs, the reverse is not i.e. all beliefs are not superstitions. Both beliefs and superstitions, sometimes, may not have concrete scientific evidence or a clear-cut backup; still one cannot help having them. They have more psychological and optimistic elements than tangibility or credibility on the face of it that certainly bolster our self-confidence and self-satisfaction to feel and work with. They are not confined to any single country, region, or continent, but are ubiquitously prevalent in many countries of the world with their own distinct quota!

Human beings being a bundle of emotions, a bunch of desires, a lot of longings, a battery of expectations, and a flock interested in a multiplicity of positive and gainful returns can't live without both.

Belief is a state or habit of mind in which trust is reposed in some person or thing so strongly that it gives confidence, comfort, impetus, and fillip to a person enabling and emboldening him/her to go ahead with his/her pursuits in the fond hope of getting expected positive returns, examples being belief in God, belief in democracy, belief in freedom of expression/speech, and quite interestingly, sometimes, without even mass public acknowledgment or acceptability. Some are mostly an individual's choices.

 

Belief also refers to a feeling that someone or something exists or is true, reliable, and/or trustworthy - something that one strongly deems as real and imminent with or without tangible backup.

 

To put it in a right perspective -  it's something accepted, considered to be true, or held as an opinion or something believed (like say, an individual’s religious or political philosophy/faith/beliefs) including, especially, a tenet or body of tenets held by a group (the beliefs in different segments, denominations, and/or cults of the same religion, for example).

 

It also represents the conviction of the truth of some statement or the reality of some being or phenomenon, especially when based on examination of evidence - like belief in the validity of scientific statements/documents.

 

A superstition is any belief or practice considered by non-practitioners to be irrational or supernatural, attributed to fate or magic, perceived supernatural influence, or that stems out of an unknown or hazy fear. Some say superstition can be understood as a narcissistic, overbearing, self-absorbed, and self-loving attempt at compensation by persons lacking self-confidence, who feel themselves to be under an existential threat. But they are not fully correct. Religious beliefs can be defined as a commitment to an ultimate meaning concomitant with the realities and ways of living their mundane life as enjoined upon the people professing that faith and remaining with them from womb to tomb.

 

Superstitions - though they don’t have a tangible or practical basis or foundation and cannot stand scientific scrutiny - if you happen to have them - you may avoid walking under ladders, spilling salt, and/or passing black cats - an anathema, abhorrence, or bête noire in a single word. It's all because you think they are bad omens and inauspicious, and may bring you bad luck, may put a spanner in the works, or spoil your mission.

 

Superstitions are not bad or irrational altogether. To say so is preposterous. They also have their own elements of possibility and reliability to the discerning and obsessed minds (perhaps even value for individuals concerned).

 

Of course, sometimes, beliefs and superstitions are interchangeably used by people. Again, a taboo usually originates based on a cultural sense, whereas a superstitious belief originates as a result of human faith and unreasoning.

 

Strikingly, as one of our beliefs goes, even a Crow shit is good for you. And it gets weirder than this! Here are some superstitions which most Indians have:  

 

• Sighting a mongoose symbolizes being very lucky.
• Itchy palms mean that money is coming your way.
• Cutting the nails and combing the hair at night times and on Saturdays bring bad luck.
• If a black cat crosses your path, then your tasks get delayed, postponed, or even spoiled.
• Avoid No.13 being inauspicious.
• No.8 is considered a curse.
• Keeping onions and knives under your bed will drive away bad dreams.
• Keeping a broomstick near the feet of a sleeping infant/baby will protect it from evil forces and their adverse influences.
• Sweeping floors at dusk/night drives away Mata Laxmi from home.
• You lose your wealth if you shake your legs (some believe it may also increase blood pressure).

 

• According to the phrase, ‘teen tighada kaam bighada’, anything above two gets difficult to handle. And that a discussion is always better between two people rather than three. However, this was misinterpreted as 3 (persons going together for a particular work) being unlucky.
• Right-eye twitching is a good harbinger of a good thing to happen for males, and left-eye twitching, for females.
• Crow-shitting is considered a divine blessing, and more than that, may bring good luck.
• Adding one rupee to a gift sum is auspicious.
• People with flat feet bring bad luck.
• 1 is a lucky number
• Putting a small spot of kajal on a baby's forehead and/or cheek guards against 'buri nazar' (evil eye).
• Avoid  numbers 8 and 13 - opt for a number like 1 or 4 – they are considered universally lucky
• Book your home on a sound numerological day according to the Almanac.
• Looking at the mirror at night is prohibited, though not seriously.
• Horoscope matching and fixing an auspicious date and time are necessary for a marriage

 

• Find an auspicious day/time according to Almanac for dealing with houses, doing house-warming ceremonies, and/or moving into your sweet home. The same is followed in cases where new works/tasks/businesses are started.
• Make the cow and calf enter the new house first, as, crores of Gods are believed to be incumbent in a Cow which is also worshipped as God.
• Bring Gods first into your new house.
• Always step in with the Right Foot first. For most purposes, always use your right hand and also, particularly receive everything in your right hand only.
• The first meal to be prepared in a new house is to ‘boil milk’.
• Wednesday is preferred as an auspicious day. Saturdays and Tuesdays are avoided.
• Go to the doctor on Tuesday or Thursday.
• Construct/buy/occupy a Vastu-Compliant home
• Cracking coconut is part of the rituals on special occasions and before the temples if you go there for worship.
• Ward off the evil eye (बूरी नज़र in Hindi and திருஷ்டி in Tamil) by Aarti.
•  Kaala Teeka (काला टीका) is a practice for warding off evil spirits or the evil eye by marking a black spot on a person's forehead, cheek, or back neck. The word "Kaala" means black, and "Teeka" means a mark or a spot. The black spot is believed to protect the person or object from evil spirits or negative energies and pessimistic vibes.

  

• The same objective is sought to be achieved by hanging an evil eye or a lemon-chili string to protect the household and the family members from evil forces.
• The Cow is considered ‘Gau-Mata’.
• Five Natural elements which we live among and have to befriend, and even worship are  - earth (pritvi-பூமி), water (jala-நீர்), fire (tejas-நெருப்பு), wind (vaayu-காற்று) and space (akasha-வளிமண்டலம்). 
• Bring salt into your new home to ward off all that is evil.
• Don’t sleep with your head facing north.
• Feed the ants and cattle, especially the cow and calf.
• Beautify your home with crystals.
• Invite Goddess Lakshmi - the Wealth Goddess - in (good luck in) by keeping your home clutter-free and litter-free.
• Burn oil lamps in the Puja room, specifically in the morning and evening. It is believed to drive away the darkness of all hues from your life and family. Burn Incense Sticks and Camphor during Pujas.

 

• Keep the main entrance door open when dusk starts setting in till the pitched darkness engulfs so that Gods and Goddesses will enter your home and confer their boons on you and your family.
• Peacock feathers are considered auspicious to invoke the Grace of Lord Krishna. Have them at home.
• Generate luck with an ornate wind chime.
• Place different things and items in your home in accordance with Vaastu Compliance.
• Cleanliness is not just hygiene-savvy and environment-friendly, but ensures serene atmosphere and sterility, besides keeping the house uninfected/disinfected, in order to invoke the Divine Grace of Gods and Goddesses, particularly Sri Mahalakshmi, the Wealth Goddess.
• Grow Divine Plants in your house/backyard - Tulsi plant is a good example, along with Basil (Thiruthamalli – திருத்தமல்லி in Tamil)
• Charity acts will save your head and come in handy to help you get out of problems of sorts, especially financial crises. and donations made during the Eclipse periods will give you multi-fold PUNYA.

 

The above is not an exhaustive list and one can add more general or their own specific beliefs and/or superstitions.

 

As far as I am concerned, besides many of the above, I have my peculiar and sui generis beliefs and superstitions with which I am comfortable, and those work for me.

 

 

(R.SAMPATH)

23/7/2023