Indian Superstitions and the logic behind them - Part 2

India is a country of traditions and religions. In the last blog, I've told you about the various superstitions believes in India. What they are, how people's mind work about these believes and how people view them. I told how some people follow these myth blindly without caring to know the real reason behind them. And then I told you the actual truth behind some of these superstitions. 

It's good to satisfy our curiosity from that to time and if you're life me, always looking for answers and reasons behind everything, hungry for more knowledge and reasoning then I'm sure you'd like to know the logic behind more of such believes.

 
So here's the part 2 for you guys...

Superstition - Cutting nails or hair after sunset is bad luck

In India and also some other countries, it is believed that cutting nails or hair after sunset is bad luck. According to the Indian myth, Goddess Lakshmi (Hindu Goddess of Wealth and prosperity) enters our house to stay the night and bless us with wealth and good fortune. It is believed that acts like generating waste, will anger her and is considered as a sign of disrespectful. Hence it was believed that we should not generate waste at night by cutting nails or hair.

People in old times also believed in acts of black magic. Another reason for not cutting nails or hair at night is that, those can easily be used for acts of black magic against the person. 

There is also a Japanese myth which states that cutting your nails at night opens up a way for evil spirits to enter your body through the fresh cut and posses you. It is believed that the boundary between the spiritual world and physical and our physical world is thinnest at night which gives the high chance for the spirits to reach you at night.

Logic 

There are lot of theories to understand this superstition. The most primarily believed is that during old times there was no electricity and people used larterns and candles at night, which doesn't provide enough light. There were also no nail cutters at that time and people mostly used knives or blades to cut their nails and hair. Cutting them in the dark could lead to serious injuries and it was also difficult to get medical assistance during night time and hence our ancestors forbade us to cut our nails or hair at night time.

Another reason could be that since it used to be dark at night without much light from the candles and larterns, it would be difficult to sweep the nails and hair after cutting them which would be unhygienic if accidentally mixed with food or water.

Superstition : We should not chew Tulsi (Basil) leaves

As an Indian, I'm pretty sure we all have heard about various myths and believes regarding Tulsi(Basil). Specially in Hindu religion, it is believed to be a sacred and holy plant, the incarnation of Goddess Tulsi herself, the avatar of Goddess Laxmi and the wife of Lord Vishnu. The leaves of Tulsi are considered as a symbol of purity.

Goddess Tulsi

Most of the Indian people have a Tulsi plant in their households and many of us are familiar with its excellent medicinal properties. Its been used for thousands of years in Aryuveda for its properties and its believed healthy to consume few on daily basis.
But according to a religious myth it is also believed that we should never chew Tulsi but swallow it instead because she's the wife of Lord Vishnu and chewing the leaves makes it a kind of disrespect.

Logic 

Basil Leaves

Along with other minerals, Tulsi leaves contain a high amount of mercury and iron, which are directly released while chewing. Mercury is not good for the enamels and can lead to blackening of teeth and discolouration. Tulsi also has slightly acidic pH as compared to our mouth, so it may cause enamel to wear away if consumed in large quantities.

Hence it is advised not to chew Tulsi leaved directly but swallow them down instead.

Superstition : We should not sweep at night

This superstition is similar to the one about not cutting nails and hair after sunset. According to the superstition, it is believed that one should not sweep or mop after sunset, at night because Goddess Lakshmi visits our house at night to grant us wealth and good fortune but sweeping at night would make her angry and she will leave the house. Since Goddess Lakshmi is associated with Wealth and fortune, so her leaving the house would mean loss of fortune and no one would want that.

Goddess Lakshmi

Logic 

As I said earlier, there was no electricity in old times and candles and larterns hardly lit the houses. In old times women usually wore expensive jewellery all the time and there were high chances of loosing something while sweeping and it would be hard to notice in the dark and they could be accidentally be thrown away with the waste.

Superstition : One should not step out during an eclipse

As we know that, an eclipse is an astronomical event that occurs when like moon or any planet moves into the shadow of another heavenly body. 

We all have watched solar and lunar eclipses. An Indian superstition forbids a person to step out, eat or drink during an eclipse (specially solar eclipse). It is believed to be an omen of evil that brings disasters. We know that Sun is worshipped all over the world as the source of light and life and disappearing Sun during solar eclipse is considered a bad omen. Pregnant women are specially restricted to move out during eclipse because supposedly it will harm the baby.

The superstition is actually generated by an Hindu myth regarding Rahu and Ketu.

According to the myth, during Samudra Manthan or churning of the ocean, the Devas(Gods) and Asuras(Monsters) unite to get Amrit (elixir of immortality). After successfully getting the elixir, the Gods used Apsara Mohini (which was Lord Vishnu disguised as an enchanting woman) to distract the Asuras and cheat them of their share. Though one of the Asura, Svarnbhanu, disguised himself as Deva to taste the Amrit. Sun and Moon, who were sitting beside him found that he's an Asura and revealed his identity just as he was pouring the liquid in his mouth. Lord Vishnu instantly beheaded him but since he had already swallowed a bit of the Nectar, he became immortal.  

Lord Vishnu Beheading Svarnbhanu

Although his head and body was cut in half so they both became a separate entity. The head was called "Rahu" and the "body" was called "Ketu". 

Rahu and Ketu swore vengeance against Sun and Moon.
Rahu and Ketu keep following the Sun and the Moon and and from time to time Rahu catches up and swallow them and hence Grahan (eclipse) occurs. It is believed to be a painful event for Gods and emit a lot of negative energy. It is also considered to be a favorable time for evil spirits. Hence it was suggested to keep praying during eclipse, not head out, eat or drink.

Ketu Trying To Swallow The Sun

Logic

Though the myth of Rahu and Ketu was really interesting, it is important to know the scientific logic too. As we know that during ancient times there were no sunglasses to protect our eyes and hence directly staring at an eclipse could cause retinal burns or as we call it "Eclipse blindness". Hence it was advised not to step out during an eclipse. 

It is also believed that the rays of solar eclipse can also affect the cooked food, which when consumed can cause indigestion though it is not true at all.

Hope you guys liked the part 2 of Indian Superstitions and the logic behind them.

Here's the link for Part 1 if you haven't read it yet - Indian Superstitions and the logic behind them. 

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