SUPERSTITION IN INDIA

"Superstitions are habits rather than beliefs." - Marlene Dietrich

The origin of “superstitions”

The term superstition is thought to derive from the Latin superstitio, meaning "to stand over in awe.“

The term is also related to the Latin word superstes ("outliving" or "surviving"), and in this sense refers to the remains of ideas and beliefs that continued long after their original meaning had been forgotten.

For this reason superstitions are often considered relics of outmoded ways of thinking.

Superstitions are often passed down through generations; often, the origin of a superstition is lost to history.

A superstition is the irrational belief that future events can be influenced or foretold by specific, unrelated behaviors or occurrences. The earliest superstitions were created as a way to deal with ignorance and fear of the unknown.

Superstitious beliefs are more common among certain groups of people than others, and vary from culture to culture: For example, the number thirteen is considered by many in western society to be inherently unlucky whereas in Japan the number four is often considered unlucky.

Some groups are more prone to superstitious beliefs than others. Miners, fishermen, and gamblers all tend to be more superstitious than average; the success of all these occupations tends to be more out of the control of the individual.

Superstitions can also be learned behaviors. Children who watch those around them perform superstitious actions like "knocking on wood" or not walking under ladders may adopt these behaviors.

The true origins of certain superstitions can be centuries old, having been passed down from generation to generation through such an observational learning process.

The broken mirror with its bad luck, the ladder, or the black cat. How did all these items acquire significance in our society?

Why do you cross your fingers when awaiting the answer to an uncertain situations?

In other words, if you cross your fingers hoping that something will occur, and if in fact it does occur, you assume that it’s because you’ve crossed your fingers.

EXAMPLES:-

For instance, Seeing an elephant when one is leaving for a journey

is considered lucky. This is because an elephant represents Lord Ganesha, the Indian God who is the harbinger of good luck and removes obstacles.

A guest is predicted if a crow starts crowing early in the morning at one’s rooftop.

Seeing a peacock on a journey is also considered lucky, but hearing its shrill sound is bad.

Indians feel happy if a sparrow builds a nest in a new house because it signals good fortune.

A very old belief is that if you kill a cat, you have to offer one in gold to a priest.

If one sneezes, it is not considered good to go out. It is considered an ill-luck if we see a man with an empty

pitcher or if a cat crosses one’s way. Seeing a one-eyed man early in the morning is

considered so bad that people think that they won’t get any meals during the day.

If an owl is seen sitting on top of house, it is taken as a sure sign of coming ruin and destruction to the family of that house.

It is said that the small babies should not be fed outside, under the open sky, their food should always be given in covered places.

The number 13

SHOOTING STAR

A mirror broken

The black cat.

The horseshoe

Instructions Step 1 Examine the basis for the superstition. Belief in a "lucky"

scarf may derive from wearing that scarf when something good happened, while belief that amulets or relics can heal derives from a belief that disease is caused by evil spirits.

Step 2 Question the underlying belief. If good things happened

when wearing a "lucky" scarf, try to recall if good things also happened when not wearing the scarf.

Step 3 Analyze the source of the belief for its credibility. Step 4 Look for the real causes of events around you. Step 5 Broaden your education in history and the sciences to

deepen your understanding of the way the world really works.

Conclusion

If something go right its become our luck If something go wrong its become bad luck

for us and we become superstitious

To avoid this superstition we have to believe on ourself not on these things because human make its own destiny by his/her hard work that they do in their life.