| 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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