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 the
usefulness 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. So
India is a land of superstitions. The people believe in a number of omens
perform a number of ceremonies to achieve their ends and live in constant
fear of ghosts and evil spirits. #ut this does not mean that such
superstitions are peculiar to India alone. They e!ist in every country of the
world. $or e!ample even the advanced and highly educated Europeans are
superstitious. To give only one e!ample number thirteen is regarded as
inauspicious among them. Even today we find out a single one of their
hotels with a room having the number thirteen on it for no one would like
to stay it.
Even a moment%s though reminds us of a number of common Indian
superstitions. &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-omens
and are sure to bring ill luck. To see a one-eyed man early in the morning is
considered highly inauspicious and one who sees him is sure not to get his
meals during the day. The sitting of an owl over the house-top is a sure sign
of approaching ruin and destruction. If a crow crows early in the morning
the housewife is sure that she would have some guest during the day.
"any of the Indian superstitions are based on sound reasoning and
common sense. The grown-ups should not crossover a child as it would
check his growth. This superstition is an embodiment of wisdom. If the
grown-ups cross over the child they might in(ure it. The food of the baby
should 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 food
should never be left uncovered. )losed wells are abodes of evil spirits and
so one should not go near them. *e now know that poisonous gases come
out of such wells and are likely to cause great in(ury to the health of the
person who goes near them. Similarly the superstition that +eepal trees are
the nightly abodes of ghosts and that it is a sin to pluck flowers at night are
all abased on sound scientific reasons. They are the attempts of our ancient
sages to teach science to the people in a popular way.
Superstitions regarding ghosts and evil spirits are signs of human
weakness. "an is weak and he lives in constant fear of unknown dangers
that 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 the
numerous accidents and unforeseen misfortunes that befall him so
suddenly and when he least e!pects them. *ho can be their cause and
author- Surely they must be caused by some evil spirits that hover around
him always ready to do him harm. .e must keep them in good humor for
his own good. .ence they perform various ceremonies to please them and
to win their favor.
Ignorance breeds superstitions. .ence they tend to disappear with an
increase in literacy. &ne people begin to understand the right relation of
things and the real cause of phenomenon they cease to be superstitious.
*ith the march of science and popular awakening many of the
superstitions have already lost their hold on the minds of the people. #ut
many of them are so deeply rooted that no amount of knowledge or science
can weaken their hold or fully shake them off. That is why so many
superstitions still persists even in the most advanced countries of the
world.