Superstitions that have logic!

When logic blends with supernatural

Culture

December 13, 2019

/ By / Kolkata



3.7/5 - (8 votes)

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In India technology and superstitions reside side by side. From breaking mirrors to a cat crossing your path to sneezing – anything and everything has a superstition linked to it. However, few of these superstitions do have some logical reasoning and theories behind them.

According to the lexicon, a superstition 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. And India being a spiritual and mystic land has loads of such weird superstitions still practised today. While some of the superstitions are completely baseless, a few of them have solid scientific reasons defending them.

Lemon- chilies to protect you from evil eye

Seven green chilies and a lemon hanging from a thread is quite a common sight in Indian shops, homes and even on vehicles. The believed superstition is that hanging it keeps away the god of misfortune, Alakshmi, who brings bad luck to the business. Apparently Alakshmi likes sour, pungent and chilly things, so when she comes up at the door, she will get her favourite tastes, satisfy her hunger and leave without entering the shop bringing bad luck along with her!

But there is a scientific logic behind this practice. The cotton thread used to string the chilies and lemon pierces through them absorbing the acids, vitamin C and other nutrients. This smell then vapourises with time keeping away pests and insects. It was a simple insect repellant used in earlier times, which was then adorned with these beliefs about bad luck to may be make it a regular practice!

One rupee makes it all better

It is an unconscious practice to add one rupee when giving money as gifts in Indian ceremonies, especially during weddings. If asked people will just say that is how it works, but apparently it also has logic to it. The belief stems from the play of numbers, the extra coin makes the entire sum an odd number which is not divisible by two and leaves a remainder of one in the equation. This indivisible aspect is considered auspicious for a newly married couple. On the other hand, an even sum would leave zero as remainder which may seem to signify ‘the end’ and is not an ideal metaphor during marriage.

It’s time to wish

Throwing a coin into water bodies to make a wish is practised not only in India but all over the world. Apparently this act is supposed to fulfill the wish and bring good luck to the person, but it also has a reason for its existence.

In earlier days, the coins were used to be made of copper, which is considered an essential element for the well being of our body as it has anti-microbial properties. With rivers being the main source of drinking water in those days, it served as beneficial as the copper helped in killing the bacteria in the water. However, it may not be much of use in today’s time as neither do we use copper coins nor do we drink water directly from the rivers.

No sleeping with your head facing north

Another superstition in India goes that one should not sleep with their head facing north as it belongs to the demon that might contaminate your thoughts! It is most probable that our ancestors knew about the relation between earth’s magnetic field and the human body’s field which may affect blood circulation.

Sleeping with your head towards north is believed to cause magnetic repulsion with earth’s magnetic field and lead to increased pressure in the brain along with other symptoms like insomnia, higher cholesterol levels, blood pressure and such.

Curd and sugar – your lucky charm

Consuming curd and sugar before stepping out for something important is considered to be a good luck charm. The logic behind is that curd has a cooling and refreshing effect and in a country like India where summers can be unbearable because of the scorching heat, it is beneficial to remain cool. Also, the sugar provides instant glucose which can keep one going.

Oh and its Friday the 13th today! Want to know about its origin? Then give this a read:

https://mediaindia.eu/freestyle/is-it-unlucky-13/

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