16 Common Superstitions We Should Stop Believing In Blindly

Whether its religious beliefs or tabooed tales of the suppressed, we have analysed and brought forth the most believable origins and the scientific reasons behind the most common superstitions in India.

1. Throwing coins in lakes or wells brings good luck

Remember visiting that old temple and throwing in coins after making a wish? And then patiently waiting for the wish to come true! Well, the truth is your wish, i.e. the extra marks in that examination or a promotion in that job is never coming true until you work hard. In ancient times when coins were made of copper, our ancestors used to drop a coin or two into the well or river since intake of copper was helpful for the human body. Though the material of coins changed, the ritual continues.

Throwing Coins
Source: tx.english-ch.com
2. Ringing the bell before entering the temple keeps the evil forces away

Our grandfathers would lift us up as we ringed the bell before entering the temple and grand-mothers always told us stories how the bell keeps the evil forces away from the temple. Well there is science behind this as well! When we ring the bell, it clears our minds, helps us focus on our devotion to God and get rid of the negative thoughts.

Source: anwesananda.blogspot.com
3. Worshiping the Peepal tree as it is related to God

Going round the peepal tree, tying threads and stones because it is sacred? No, no, no! Basically the peepal tree is useless, well except the shade, as it does not bear any fruit and its wood isn’t strong for any purpose! Pepal is known to be the only tree that produces oxygen even at night. Our forefathers were smart enough to relate it to God and save these huge trees from being cut.

Peepal Tree
Source: bsvprasad.wordpress.com
4. Sleeping towards North invited ghosts and often death as well!

Your bed never points towards the north because the ‘tantric’ told you it invited ghosts during your housewarming ceremony? No, there aren’t any ghosts. Did you study Geography well? The earth is like a giant magnet and your body has its own magnetic field as well! If we sleep with our heads towards the north, our body’s magnetic field becomes asymmetrical to the magnetic field of the earth which causes health problems as the heart needs to work harder to get rid of the asymmetrical magnetic fields.

Magetic Field
Source: imgkid.com
5. Dear women, do not enter the kitchen during ‘that time of the month’

Great-grandmothers stopped the women of the house to enter the kitchen during their menstrual cycle as they were considered ‘impure’ during those days. Well probably you consider this discrimination and completely nonsensical. But scientifically, this is a humane way to treat menstruating women. The loss of blood and iron makes women tired easily and to top that is the cramps and aches. Preventing them to perform the household chores actually gives them an opportunity to get some rest.

Menstruation Cycle
Source: hillpost.in
6. Break the glass and bring yourself seven years of bad luck

So the superstition goes like this that if you break a glass, you’ll suffer seven years of bad luck. There’s history behind this. In ancient times, people used to see their reflection in water and considered this reflection as their soul. When mirrors were in use, the same theory was continued. When one broke the mirror, it was like you harmed or injured your soul. Why seven years? The Romans believed that life renewed itself every seven years!

Breaking glass
Source: snapshotofspirit.wordpress.com
7. Sweep after sunset and sweep away your friends

The common belief goes that when your sweep after dark, you sweep away your friends and let enemies in. But the simple science behind this is when you sweep in the dark, you might carelessly sweep away small valuable things like a small piece of gold jewellery and the likes.

Man Sweeping
Source: imgkid.com
8. Stamp on your friend’s cut nails and get ready to add a new name to your list of enemies

Old school people believe that if you step on someone’s cut nails, you are actually stamping on the ego of that other person. Truth is that, it’s poisonous if the cut nail pierces the skin!

Cut Nails
Source: farm6.staticflickr.com
9. Never look at the Sun when it is eclipsed

Reason? It’s during the eclipse that the demons and animals consume the Sun.

Truth? Strong UV rays may affect your eyes and damage them.

solar eclipse
Source: gearykid.wordpress.com
10. Fast to please the Goddesses

No God/Goddesses ever said that fasting would make him/her happy or that (s) he will shower all his blessings on the ones who fast. Occasional fasting cleans the body of the toxic materials and helps one keep healthy.

Source: peacefullylessstressed.com
11. Join your hands to pay respect to the other person

We Indians greet each other with a ‘namaskar’, that is, folding the hands to pay respect to the other person. Scientifically explained, the joining of hands help us remember the other person better as it creates pressure points of the eyes, ears and the mind.

Source: yogaye.com
12. Applying Mehendi on wedding brings good luck

We girls just need an occasion to apply Mehendi on our palms. It is said that Heena or Mehendi brings good luck. Scientifically speaking, Mehendi has got nothing to do with luck. Mehendi has cooling properties which helps the bride to cool down and get relieved of the stress. Hence Mehendi is applied all over the palm covering all the nerve ends.

Source: askmeonweddings.com
13. Wash your legs before entering a temple to pay respect to God

The washing of legs before entering a temple is nowadays considered as a sign of respect to god, but back in the time, this was done to save one’s legs from the intense heat of the tropical sun. This is because most temples in India are made from stone which tend to absorb a lot of heat and become really hot to walk upon.

Wash Feet
Source: c2.staticflickr.com
14. The Spilling salt superstition

Spilling of salt is considered to bring bad omen.  In ancient times, salt was an expensive spice and it had many useful purposes. Wasting salt, therefore, was frowned upon, and so some suggest that the admonition of spilling salt being “bad luck” came about as a way to prevent the careless from wasting a precious commodity.

Spilled Salt Shaker
Source: kitchendaily.ca
15. Red and white bangles or Choora worn by newly wedded women

The Choora or red and white bangles worn by the Punjabi bride as a ritual, the modern women often sees this as a hindrance to their work and decreases the one year ritual to just forty days. However, good news is these Chooras help your circulatory system! The Bangles used by women are normally in the wrist part of one’s hand and its constant friction increases the blood circulation level. Furthermore the electricity passing out through outer skin is again reverted to one’s own body because of the ring shaped bangles, which has no ends to pass the energy outside but to send it back to the body. Next time the bride complains about those beautiful bangles, enlighten her with this! 😉

Source: thewhitescape.files.wordpress.com
16. Apply that sindoor to stay relaxed

The Hindu bride has been applying vermilion or sindoor in hair parting since ages. Besides signifying her married-hood, the vermillion contains mercury. Mercury present in it removes stress and strain and keeps the brain alert and active also. Go ahead and apply that extra bit of sindoor!

Source: .utsavpedia.com
Source: .utsavpedia.com

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