Hanging lemon and chilies, believed to ward of evil eye - © Anand Bharat
Recently I was editing the second chapter of my manuscript, currently named [the chapter] 'Immutability' when I realized how it is almost impossible to complete a detailed study on the Indian subcontinent without the mentioning of superstitions — a belief in something beyond reason.
The word superstition originated from the Latin word 'superstitio,' which meant excessive fear of Gods.
Although they have no basis in science today, many of them do have specific beliefs behind, which helped our ancestors during their time.
It's no surprise, then, that many such superstitions exist all over the world and are mostly based on religion.
The number thirteen, for instance, was associated with the biblical Last Supper, where Jesus Christ dined with his twelve disciples just before being arrested and crucified.
The resulting idea affected the Christians and their nations that thirteen people at one table was a bad luck, and eventually expanded into thirteen being an unlucky number in general.
Many hotels, buildings and in rare cases, houses in the west still skip the thirteen floor and plot with the numbers going straight from twelve to fourteen.
Building in Omaha, America skipping 13th floor - © OWH
Following the same steps, Indians followed similar traditions but with time, when other parts of the world started to evolve and left these anarchic practices, Indians continued to stay with their backward practices — a tradition that still continues.
Although most of the superstitions actually made sense, or at least they did until we forgot their original purpose, it is no doubt that today they serve no purpose other than providing a psychological relief — or destruction from the reality.
Below are the superstitions sub-Asians (people of the Indian subcontinent) excessively follow in their lives, along with their believed (logical) meanings — if there exist any — describing how they might have formed in the first place and for what purpose to serve.
The black cat is a bad omen
As being a widely believed superstition, the black cats were considered to be an embodiment of witches even in the Indian subcontinent. It is believed that if one crosses your way, it will result in death.
A remedy to prevent this is to either wait for someone else to cross the way, change the way or in severe cases, spit three times on the way.
Cow passing your way brings luck
Cow is considered sacred in Hinduism, the mother religion of the Indian soil, which is why it is lucky if one crosses your way. Even the local Muslims, as ancestrally converted from Hinduism, have a strong belief in this today.
Breaking the mirror brings bad luck
It was the Romans who first started the superstition relating to broken mirrors as a sign of bad luck.
Superstitions relating to mirrors evolved from a time when the early man saw his reflection in the water, thinking that the image in water was of their soul.
According to an ancient myth, mirrors have magical powers. Thus, a broken mirror would terminate its powers, the soul would be apart from the body and it is also believed that misfortunes would be brought upon the one whose reflection it last held.
It is also believed here that if you put a mirror outside on a rainy day, it will cause the rain to stop.
Do not cut nails and hairs, or use scissors after sunset
Spreading such rumors must have been a mother's way to stop their child from dropping excesses in the house.
Also, nail clippers or scissors were sharp blades which required precision and light to be used in the absence of which one could get hurt, since there was no light at that time.
Shaking legs bring bad luck
It was perhaps considered disrespectful in society. The remedy for preventing people, especially children doing it was to spread the rumor that doing so will cause you loss of wealth.
Since then it is as considered a bad luck if one shakes his legs, as well as whistling indoors.
Do not sweep after sunset
It is related to one of the Gods in Hinduism, the goddess Laxmi would not enter the house of the practicer.
Another reason could be fear of important thing might get swept away in the dark.
Stepping out during an eclipse cause loss of eyesight
Observing the sun during a solar eclipse can cause retinal burns or 'eclipse blindness'.
Based on a series of observations, our ancestors probably reached the conclusion that it was not advisable to set out during an eclipse.
Avoid going near a Sacred Fig (Peepal) tree at night
It was believed that ghosts reside in shady trees at night, and Sacred Fig as native to Indian subcontinent is a densely thick and evergreen tree.
Drawing black dot on forehead keeps the evil eye away
It is believed that when someone or something looks beautiful, evil eye of jealous people will affect that person or thing.
The best remedy for which was to make it ugly. Putting a dot on the face, or hanging an old slipper to new things will make it less attractive and people will be less envious.
Widow, or even a girl brings bad luck
This is a widely accepted belief in the Indian subcontinent. Widows can never live their lives as normal again and are restricted from a lot of matters in life.
It is believed that they bring bad luck where ever they go and the Sati system — the burning of the widow along with her husband's corpse — was also based on the same principle.
One widely believed ancient book from India, 'The Kamasutra,' written between about 200-300 AD even says:
“A girl who is called by the name of one of the twenty-seven stars, or by the name of a tree, or of a river, is considered worthless, as also a girl whose name ends in "r" or "l".”
Days and weeks have specific meanings behind
Astrology has played an important role in Indians' lives since ancient times. Many people still prefer to do good things, such as shifting, fixing a marriage, entry of a bride to her new home, starting a new business, etc, according to same astrological believes.
There's even a widely sold book named 'Jantri,' published every year in Pakistan claiming to predict the future of the year, week by week, day by day, through astrology advising the readers when its best to do what.
Mental illness is a curse
Mental illness and psychological problems are considered an encounter with the devil or demons who have taken over one's body and mind. Some also believe it is caused by the black magic performed by enemies and jealous persons.
Such beliefs often give the advantage to fake mullahs (a Muslim learned in Islamic theology and sacred law, commonly referred as 'Baba Ji') who admit to have extraordinary powers and capable of performing magic, black specifically.
Mental illness is a curse
Mental illness and psychological problems are considered an encounter with the devil or demons who have taken over one's body and mind. Some also believe it is caused by the black magic performed by enemies and jealous persons.
Such beliefs often give the advantage to fake mullahs (a Muslim learned in Islamic theology and sacred law, commonly referred as 'Baba Ji') who admit to have extraordinary powers and capable of performing magic, black specifically.
Some others with beyond-explainable reasons include:
Right eye twitching is good for men, and the left one is good for women.
Lemon and green chilies can keep the evil eye away.
Lizard falling on you brings luck, and sometimes back luck.
Bat entering the house can cause death.
Gemstones have magical powers.
Wearing an amulet protects you.
Itching in hand brings money.
And last but not least, ancestors knew the best!
Logic can never change an opinion if it wasn't used to form the opinion in the first place. Contrary to popular belief, these archaic practices are prevalent not only in rural areas but metropolitans as well. And although they have no basis in science today, superstitions remain an integral part of our daily lives, even in modern times.
They have, with time, become a psychological relief. And even if one logically understands the meaning behind them, it is still more difficult to consciously resist a superstition then continue to follow it, especially when, let's say, spitting three times on the way doesn't take much effort.
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Alyan Khan is a student of humanities, writer, author and sociopolitical activist from Pakistan.
© This article was originally composed for Express Tribune, and later printed in Daily Times and Academia Mag.
______________________
Alyan Khan is a student of humanities, writer, author and sociopolitical activist from Pakistan.
© This article was originally composed for Express Tribune, and later printed in Daily Times and Academia Mag.