India, Superstitions and Science

*This article is translated from my Marathi article published in the Tarun Bharat Newspaper on 2nd June 2021.*

Ever since the evolution of cultural practices in human society, India has stood out for its diverse lifestyle, ethics and faith. Regardless of the religion, the foundation of the Indian system is generally an amalgamation of science, logic, culture. 

Due to its inherently diverse and inclusive nature, one can find people from contrasting communities happily living together as a society. 

Although, one thing is stereotyped amongst all this diversity; Superstitions. In fact, the prevalence of belief in superstitions is one of the most debatable topics in the country. Almost everyone, regardless of caste, religion or societal status, believes in some superstition. Unlike science, there is no documentation of the theory behind superstitions. In fact, the origin of the propagation of superstitions was substantially based on human psychology and not religion. 

There is no doubt that humans are one of the most eminent animals in the world that possess a highly independent mindset. Thus, faith was used as a catalyst to mould society by those who knew how. As nothing is black and white in this world, several pros and cons root from the practice of superstitions, of which some are worrisome while some are intriguing. 

Let's feed the intrusive mind by looking at some of the superstitions from an alternate angle- 

1. "Women shouldn't work during their menstruation."-

Historically, the roles and responsibilities of a man and a woman of the household were pretty distinct. As the head of the family, the man was expected to put food on the table and the woman was expected to take care of the household. Due to the lack of technological support, everything had to be done by hand. During menstruation, a woman's body goes through numerous changes that can be physically and emotionally exhausting. In such a case, the added exertion of the household chores can take a toll on the physical and mental well being. But in this day and age, women have risen above all the societal limitations and can manage their work and personal lives with ease. Because of revolution and with the help of technology, women can now work with the same zeal during their menstrual cycle as they would any other day. 

      2. Eating Dahi-Sugar Before Going For any Important Work- 

The human brain is a complex mechanism where different parts are activated and accelerated with the help of hormones. Have you experienced the feeling of getting a sudden surge of energy and an increase in your heart rate when something significant happens in your life? All these physical changes are a result of a change in hormone levels in the brain. According to Ayurveda, the Indian system of medicine, curd has an instant cooling effect on the body and is proven to be an effective thirst-reliever. It also calms the acidity in the stomach that is sometimes caused due to sudden changes in stress levels. Likewise, sugar provides glucose which acts as a fuel for the body. This provides the necessary energy to survive throughout the hectic day. So, eating Dahi-sugar before leaving for important work is said to keep the mind calm and the energy high. After all, a balanced mind takes a person one step closer to achieving their goals.

      3. Do not go out during an Eclipse- 

It has been verified that looking at the eclipse with the naked eye can be harmful and can cause severe eye-related problems. Earth is also a part of the solar system. Hence, the environment on Earth also gets affected due to changes happening in the universe. As a result, the risk of several complications like indigestion, skin ailments caused due sun exposure is high. Back then, education was a privilege more than a necessity. Those who were devoid of this knowledge didn't know the effects of this phenomenon on the human body. Faith and belief system was used as a medium to encourage people to protect themselves during an eclipse. Although eclipses occur in the universe, the Earth's gravitational force pulls the surrounding cosmic rays towards us. After all, even we are a part of the universe, aren't we?

      4. Fasting-

Why should one fast? There are numerous reasons for fasting, some faith-oriented while some purely because of health. People observe faith-oriented fasting for reasons like passing an exam, getting married, getting a job, etc. In India, the days of the week are named after deities. People hold a fast on certain days as a symbol of worship and devotion. The main reason for fasting is to purify the body. According to some religions, people hold a fast based on the seasons. For example, why is it advised to fast in the summer and the rainy season for people who eat meat? In summer, the levels of body heat are higher than usual and so, excessive consumption of meat can lead to heat-related diseases like boils, rashes, acidity etc. While fasting, the digestion process gets accelerated that releases toxins from the body in turn increasing immunity. In the journey to spirituality, sacrifice and strive hold profound significance. When one fasts to gain something in life, he shows devotion towards his goal and develops a sense of humility. This also helps in understanding the value of everything in life as nothing comes free of cost. 

But the concept of superstitions is debatable as it is widely used to exploit and fool people for personal gain. 

Some superstitions root for scientific analysis while some are logic-based. But the world is not a beautiful meadow filled with positivity and beauty. It is an empty land where everything right from a garden of roses to a thorny bush. There have been numerous cases of exploitation in the name of superstitions that have yielded appalling consequences. What we don't understand is that the origin of superstitions isn't linked to any religion. It is simply a clever use of human psychology to get work done. We blindly trust this baseless propaganda and end up ruining our lives.

No one knows the creator of this world, their religion and where do they come from. But, every religion, myth and story teaches us one simple thing. It teaches humans to live in peace with one another, with nature, with other living beings. As a society, we need to start looking at things with a curious mind rather than a pessimistic one. We need to go to the root of the matter, study all the aspects pick a path that benefits society as a whole. Just like they say, anything in excess is a predicament. We must realize that faith, science and religion all are creations of man. If looked at inquisitively, everyone is capable of developing a more inclusive approach when it comes to diversity in society. If we practice this, a world filled with unity in diversity, innovation and revolution is not far away.