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Superstitions
In earlier times, people believed in omens and charms.
They were very prone to superstitions. Some of these superstitions still
influence the behaviour of many. For instance, they believe that the crow and the black duck must
pass on one's right, the snake on the left. If a mantis is to the right, one
will recoup his loss. A mantis is called the horse or crow of Ram, it is always
auspicious specially during Dussera. If a man wishes to build a house and the
first stroke of the spade turns up charcoal, he will change the site. Iron is a
sovereign safeguard against the evil eye. Owls portend desolate homes, black
things in general are bad omens.
Charms are in common use. The leaves of the
Siras and the mango are powerful especially those of the Siras. They are hung up in garlands with a
mystic inscription on an earthen platter in the middle and the whole is called
Totka. The jand is another very sacred tree. In illness it is a good thing to
have an inscription made on an earthen vessel by a fakir and to wash it off and
drink the water.
Superstitions are innumerable. Odd numbers are lucky, but three
and thirteen are unlucky. If a man with two wives wants to marry a third,
he will first marry a tree, so that the new wife may be the fourth. Hindus
consider the south a quarter to be avoided, for the spirits of the dead
are supposed to live there. To sneeze is auspicious, it indicates that
you will not die for some time more. A bania (shopkeeper) will not make
the first transaction of the day on credit. It must be paid in cash and
it is called bohni. It is inauspicious to confront a Brahman, who has
no tilak mark in his forehead. On Mondays and Saturdays people do not
go to the east. The evil spirit 'Dasa Sul' resides in that direction on
these days. On Sundays and Thursdays people do not go to the west. A women
carrying a child or a pitcher is a happy omen. Two pitchers are happier
still. A she-buffalo which tries to loosen a peg by striking it with her
head is considered inauspicious. The one that makes its tighter and faster
by striking down upon it, is regarded as auspicious. A bullock which shakes
its head is also considered inauspicious. A cow that calves in Bhadon
and a she-buffalo that calves in Magh are considered inauspicious. If
a mare foals in Sawan in the day time, it is inauspicious and pun, offering
of alms is the remedy. If a crop has grown exceedingly well, a black pot
or tattered shoe is suspended on a pole in the field. This is to avert
the evil eye. Three men together will not start on a journey. If they
have to do so, two will go first, the third joining them later. They will
start after eating some gur (jaggery), laddu (sweet gram flour balls)
or dahi (curd). A house with a broad front and narrow back is considered
inauspicious. The reverse is auspicious. Hell and heaven on earth are
described tersely: small cereals such as china-dhan to eat, goat or sheep
as wealth, a shrew for a wife, dirty clothes - these are four signs of
hell. The reverse of this is : a cart to load, a she-buffalo for property,
a woman of good family and a mare to ride: these are the signs of heaven.
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