Superstitions: Be-live it or not

My left eye is twitching, there will soon be a bad news” Or “ But I can break a bad luck spell by turning seven times in a clockwise circle” are superstitions believed by superstitious. But are they true? Do they really affect us? Then why do we follow them? These are some of the many questions asked to the elders by “ the smarties of today’s young generation” as they are too curious about the things around them and the past related to it. It is today clear that superstitions were created related to astrology and certain aspects linked to religion, like omens, witchcraft and prophecies, that contradict natural science and thus it is the belief in supernatural causality that one event causes another without any natural process linking the two events such as using lemon and green chilies to avert buri nazar but it was done for encouraging consumption because they are rich in several nutrients.

| SEPTEMBER 29, 2018, 02:10 AM IST

Here are some of the superstitions - with a scientific reason as follows:  

n ‘Don’t cut nails after sunset’  -In the absence of light, one might get hurt as in ancient times the nail clippers were sharp blades which required precision and light to be used in the absence of which one could get hurt.

n ‘Throw coins into wells and rivers as it brings luck.’-In ancient times, most of the coins were made of copper. Copper and silver have anti-bacterial properties. Thus our forefather threw copper coins in the water, so that when they take bath using that water, they can have sufficient intake of copper.  

n ‘Cross your fingers for luck’.- was a gesture that’s said to date back to early Christianity. The story goes that two people used to cross index fingers when making a wish, a symbol of support from a friend to the person making the wish. (Anything associated with the shape of the Christian cross was thought to be good luck.) The tradition gradually became something people could do on their own; these days, just saying “fingers crossed” is enough to get the message, well, across.  

n ‘Place a hand infront of your mouth when sneezing or else your soul may escape and the devil can enter your body.’.- Thus, ancient people believed that having someone say,” god bless you.” drived the devil away. But the reason was to prevent the viral germs from spreading.

n ‘Don’t step out during an eclipse’ - was advised for preventing loss of eyesight.

n ‘never interrupt a person going for out for completing a work as it is a sign of bad luck’- actually, it was said in order to avoid any further delay of the work that is to be completed.  

The human mind was designed to selectively collect clues that proves its existing beliefs true. The subconscious mind plays a very important role in affecting our behaviour, shaping our personality and our life. Many people don’t have an idea how the subconscious mind works or what mechanisms govern its operation. In order to understand how the subconscious mind works one should consider it as the part of the mind that contains information that one is not consciously aware of. If one breaks a mirror he or she will focus on the bad events and ignore the good ones for as long as they believe the bad luck lasts.  

In addition the placebo effect (It is an effect in which the person thinks the thing, a belief or a treatment to be real but actually it is all fake and the more the person expects it to work, the more likely they are to exhibit a placebo response) further solidifies these superstitious beliefs one holds.  

For example, if  one believes ‘a rabbit’s foot can make one perform better’ then one will actually perform better just because the mind will program itself to prove one’s beliefs true. If one day that rabbit’s foot is dropped without being noticed then he or she will still perform better just because of the belief that its still in the pocket. In brief, the belief in superstitions is because one believes in them and not because they are true.  

   It is on us to decide which one to be believed, the one’s that were followed or the one’s that are scientifically beneficial in today’s life. After all, it is the mind that plays the game because of which we have to control the mind.  Now, it is upto each one of us whether to believe the “dhongi babas” or the facts of science. Smart people are open-minded and choose only what is good for them and better for others while the best for all and I am sure that you are one of them. So you can stop wearing your birthstone and can believe in yourself and god who is the only “almighty of all”.  

So, what do you think the reason must have been behind your well wishers making you eat curd and sugar before heading out for a good purpose?  They think it as a good luck while science say it is to keep one cool. Whatever the reason may be; frankly to speak, I eat curd and sugar only because I love it and however, it helps to satisfy both and prevents me from protesting against the superstitions and the superstitious  

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