8/11/2019 Essay on Superstition

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The meaning of superstition-Indians are a superstitious people-superstitions common in other countries also. The below given Essay /

Article will give you a vivid knowledge about some Indian Superstitions.

Superstition may be defined as a belief in the power o omens theusefulness of ceremonials and the e!istence of supernatural beings.Superstition and ignorance go together. The Indian are ignorant and

backward. "ost of them do not know even how to write their name. SoIndia is a land of superstitions. The people believe in a number of omensperform a number of ceremonies to achieve their ends and live in constantfear of ghosts and evil spirits. #ut this does not mean that suchsuperstitions are peculiar to India alone. They e!ist in every country of the

world. $or e!ample even the advanced and highly educated Europeans aresuperstitious. To give only one e!ample number thirteen is regarded as

inauspicious among them. Even today we find out a single one of theirhotels with a room having the number thirteen on it for no one would liketo stay it.

Even a moment%s though reminds us of a number of common Indiansuperstitions. &ne should not go out if one snee'es or if one sees a man

with an empty pitcher or if a cat crosses one%s path for these are ill-omensand are sure to bring ill luck. To see a one-eyed man early in the morning isconsidered highly inauspicious and one who sees him is sure not to get hismeals during the day. The sitting of an owl over the house-top is a sure signof approaching ruin and destruction. If a crow crows early in the morningthe housewife is sure that she would have some guest during the day.

"any of the Indian superstitions are based on sound reasoning andcommon sense. The grown-ups should not crossover a child as it wouldcheck his growth. This superstition is an embodiment of wisdom. If thegrown-ups cross over the child they might in(ure it. The food of the babyshould be covered with a cloth or towel. This is a warning against the baby

being given e!posed food with the possible bacterial infection. Its foodshould never be left uncovered. )losed wells are abodes of evil spirits andso one should not go near them. *e now know that poisonous gases comeout of such wells and are likely to cause great in(ury to the health of theperson who goes near them. Similarly the superstition that +eepal trees arethe nightly abodes of ghosts and that it is a sin to pluck flowers at night areall abased on sound scientific reasons. They are the attempts of our ancientsages to teach science to the people in a popular way.

8/11/2019 Essay on Superstition

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Superstitions regarding ghosts and evil spirits are signs of humanweakness. "an is weak and he lives in constant fear of unknown dangersthat lurk in the dark and lonely corners. ,o one has ever seen a ghost in

broad daylight or on a busy thoroughfare. "an%s intellect is baffled by thenumerous accidents and unforeseen misfortunes that befall him sosuddenly and when he least e!pects them. *ho can be their cause andauthor Surely they must be caused by some evil spirits that hover aroundhim always ready to do him harm. e must keep them in good humor forhis own good. ence they perform various ceremonies to please them andto win their favor.

Ignorance breeds superstitions. ence they tend to disappear with anincrease in literacy. &ne people begin to understand the right relation ofthings and the real cause of phenomenon they cease to be superstitious.

*ith the march of science and popular awakening many of thesuperstitions have already lost their hold on the minds of the people. #utmany of them are so deeply rooted that no amount of knowledge or sciencecan weaken their hold or fully shake them off. That is why so manysuperstitions still persists even in the most advanced countries of the

world.