DECODING SUPERSTITION

Superstation as defined by oxford is a widely held but irrational belief in supernatural influences,
especially as leading to good or bad luck, or a practice based on such a belief.

Superstition is as ancient as mankind. Former intellectual habits which underwent metamorphism are
now named superstition.

Not many of us may know but there is science behind what we consider today as superstition. Dont
believe me?

1. A CAT CROSSING YOUR PATH:

Today it is the top most ranked superstition in India but in ancient times this was not the case. The
prime mode of transport in old times was carts that were pulled by domesticated animals. When passing
through forests at night, the carriage animals used to get scared and act disarrayed when they sensed
wild cats such as leopards, cheetahs, and tigers crossing their path. The travelers warned others not to
proceed when a cat passes their path.

Today there is no such danger from big cats today and domestic cats are dragged in this superstition for
no reason.
2. TRIMMING NAILS AFTER SUNSET:

Have your mother ever stopped you from cutting your nails after sunset? It's because she was told to
do the same from her mother.

Back in time when electrify was not as famous as it is now sun was the only source of sufficient light.
Light of lamps or lanterns were not sufficient enough. Cutting nails in the dark might lead to injuries.
Also these nails might get into the food.

3. TAKING BATH AFTER ATTENDING FUNERAL:

This superstition involves a simple biology fact that as soon as the person dies his/her body starts to
decompose. You are exposed to the germs, bacteria and the chemicals released by the body when you
go near it.

Bathing is mandatory whether you like it or not!

Washing the room where the dead body was kept is also explained by the same logic.

4. BREAKING OF MIRROR:

During old times, mirrors were not cheap and being of low quality they were very fragile and hard to
work with. In order to avoid negligence it was told that breaking a mirror brings bad luck. That was
simple scare tactic.

So next time you break a mirror just relax. You got rid of the obsolete. Its time for some shopping.

5. LEMON AND 7 CHILLIES:

I am sure you must have seen a lemon and a few chillies hung together by a thread outside a shop, a bus
and even a vending stall. It can never go unnoticed. People believe that this would keep Alakshmi the
goddess of misfortune away from business.
The truth is the cotton thread that passes through the lemon and the chilies absorbs the acids, vitamin C
and the other nutrients present in it. Then, by the process of slow vaporization, it is released into the air.
It is considered beneficial to health. The odour is also said to keep pest and insects away, making it a
natural pesticide.

6. THROWING COINS IN WATER:

I am sure you must have done this at least once in hope for good luck. The science behind this is that
earlier people use to drink water directly from water bodies and so to ensure safe drinking water coins
which were made from copper were thrown into the wells and rivers. The copper when kept in the
water for a long time make the water healthy and kills the bacteria present in them.

7. SHUTTING THE EYES OF A DEAD PERSON:

Closing the eyes of a dead person is done to give the dead body dignity and show that they are sleeping
(peacefully).. And not because the dead person's soul will capture the soul of other people.

8. BATS FLYING IN OR AROUND THE HOUSE:

It is believed that bats bring deaths with them. Well they don't bring death, instead they carry a lot of
deadly disease causing viruses like corona viruses, hantaviruses, lyssaviruses, Lassa virus, Henipavirus,
Ebola virus and Marburg virus.

A bat flying in the house is anyways creepy.

9. FALLING OF LIZARD:

Many lizards are poisonous. If a lizard falls on a person or in the food it releases poisonous chemicals
from its body contaminating the food or harming the person so it is adviced to wash the respective spot.

10. OPENING AN UMBRELLA INSIDE THE HOUSE:

Your mom must have told you not to open an umbrella inside the house as it brings fights and clashes in
the house. Since mothers are always right this has to be true.

Umbrella has a long skeleton structure with pointed ends which could either damage the property or a
person which would surely bring a great fight with your roomy or a nice scolding from your mother.

11. SWEEPING THE HOUSE AFTER SUNSET:

If you sweep your house after sunset the goddess Laxmi would get angry with you and go away. This is
true. Confused?

In the ancient times, when there was no electricity burning candles or lanterns were not enough to
detect any precious stuff like gold ornaments or money while sweeping.

12. FALLEN HAIR AROUND THE HOUSE BRINGS FIGHT IN THE FAMILY:

This superstition says that hair which fall should be binned outside or else it will bring fight in the family.

No family is fight proof.

Fallen hair are prone to fly and get into stuff like food and water. They also ruin the aesthetics of the
house.

13. UNLUCKY 3:

According to the phrase, teen tighada kaam bighada, anything above two gets difficult to handle. And
that a discussion is always better between two people rather than three. However, this was
misinterpreted as 3 being unlucky.

Three is never unlucky. I have two siblings and we three are just rocking it together.

I deliberately wrote 13 points to prove that it is not an unlucky number. Since, you are reading my stuff
which is no bad luck at all.