Superstition
- 2. Outline 1.What is superstition? 2.Beliefs in superstition 3.Reason behind superstition 4. News related to ‘Superstitions’ 5. Act for superstition 6. Conclusion
- 3. What is Superstition? A superstition is a belief or way of behaving that is based on fear of the unknown and faith in magic or luck:: Certain events or things will be bring good or bad luck.
- 4. Beliefs in superstition Past superstition Sati ◦ The act of burning alive or burial of widow along with the body of her deceased husband . Widows ◦ widows are considered as inauspicious, seeing widows brings bad luck most of the at the morning . Animal and bird sacrifice ◦ The sacrifice of goats and buffaloes is observed in some festivals in India.
- 5. Animal superstition ◦ If a black cat crosses your path, you need to stop where you are . If you cross the that line without anyone else crossing it first , you will get bad luck.
- 6. ◦ In some part it is believed that if 3 lizards come towards you ,it is sign of marriage but if 4 or more lizards come towards you, it is sign of upcoming death. ◦ It can believe that snakes can drink milk , during the festival of Nag panchami snakes are captured and force-fed milk. As a result several thousand snakes die annually .
- 7. ◦ To sea a peacock before a journey is considered as auspicious. ◦ If a dog starts crying then something bad will be happen. ◦ If a lizard makes sound when you make a statement it indicates what you said is true.
- 8. Astrology ◦ Rahukaalam(or rahukala)is an inauspicious period of time every day. ◦ A person born under the influence of Mars is called a manglik or having Mangala Dosha. people avoid marrying such a person especially if the person is a women. Marriage with such a person is believed to cause maritial discord and divorce , even sometimes death. However it is believed that if two manglik’s marry the effects of both cancel out.
- 9. Luck and auspiciousness ◦ Adding one rupee to a gift sum is auspicious i.e. sums like 21or 101 rupees are considered as more auspicious than say 20 or 100 ◦ Never ask question “where are you going?” while they are leaving house . its purpose will not be fulfilled. ◦ Repeatedly yawning indicates that someone is missing you. ◦ Sneezing once when you make statement indicates that what you said is true.
- 10. ◦ Saturdays are considered very in auspicious ,as it is associated with the god Shani (saturn). ◦ It is believed that looking in a broken mirror may bring bad luck. ◦ In India if you sweep your house after sunset Lakshmi will walk out of the house and hence inviting poverty. Teen tigada kam bighda
- 11. ◦ People don’t shave get a haircut or cut their nails on Tuesday ,Thursday or Saturday believing that it will invite bad luck. ◦ On you way out if you sneeze you should stop for sometime.
- 12. Food related superstition ◦ Garlic keeps vampires away and it also protect from an evil eye. ◦ Spilling salt brings bad luck , the only way to turn it back the bad luck is to throw some salt with your right hand over your left shoulder. ◦ There are several methods of warding of an “evil eye”. Lemon and chilli totems are a common method. ◦ Never cross or jump across the lemon on the road
- 13. Ghosts and other supernatural beings ◦ Peepal trees are belived to be the abode of ghosts and they are avoided at night. ◦ Banyan trees are also believed to be inhabited by malevolent spirits. ◦ If you look into a mirror belonging to a person , you might see their ghost.(especially if they looked at in it right before dying)
- 14. Sleeping with a scissor or a knife under your pillow avoid bad dreams . If a rocking chair rocks by itself it is a ghost.
- 16. Other superstition ◦ Calling measles and chicken-pox by the name “Mata”. ◦ During house warming ceremony the milk is heated in vessel in such a way that it will overflow towards east direction. ◦ Never sleep with your head facing north or west. ◦ Cawing of crow or itching right palm it indicates guest will be come at home.
- 17. Reason behind the “Superstition” ◦ The black cat superstition : In the villages the roads used be uneven and people in those days walked without slippers . when they were cautioned about the black cat , they would be careful while walking on the road. ◦ Don’t go near tree at night : If you go near the tree at night the ghost will catch you. At night plants give out carbon dioxide , if you go near it will inhale that . thus the superstition made to prevent people from practicing it.
- 18. If you sneeze while walk you might loose your focus on road and hurt yourself that’s why when you sneeze stop for sometime. Mirror superstition : During old times mirror were not cheap and they were low quality and easily defected. In order to negligence it was told that breaking mirror brings bad luck .
- 19. In the olden days there was no electricity and shaving or cutting nails would result in cuts after sunset because of darkness , hence our ancestors advised not to cut nails or shave after sunset. The real reason behind the not sweeping house after sunset is , in back days there was no electricity ,light of lamp was not enough to spot any small gold ornaments while sweeping and hence chances of sweeping them away with the dust is high. Hence it was not advised to sweep after dark. If you place your head to the north and stay 5 or 6 hours the magnetic pull will cause pressure on your brain .
- 20. News ◦ During 1999-2006 it seems that there is 200 cases of child sacrifice in Utter Pradesh . ◦ In June 2013 , National Commission for Women(NCW) reported that, between 2001and 2006 300 people were killed due to superstition of black magic in state of Assam. ◦ 2005 and 2010 about 35 witchcraft related murders reportedly took place in Odisa . ◦
- 21. In Muzaffarpur district three women are branded as witch and humiliated, after words they commit suicide.
- 24. Acts Sati (prevention) act 1987 Prevention of witch hunt act 1999 The Maharashtra prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other inhuman ,Evil eye and Aghori practices and Black magic act 2013
- 25. Conclusion In conclusion ,it is easy to see that our world is filled with ordinary , everyday customs that we take for granted , but which are rooted in superstitions. ◦ Most of us engage in superstitious behavior without even thinking about it . ◦ Superstition in every aspect of life have existed since the beginning of time and will always be with us .
- 26. Thank you