India and superstitions

Every region has its own set of superstitions and India is certainly no exception. We have a superstition attached to every act in our day-to-day life. Be it getting a hair cut done or a simple sneeze, it could be twitching of an eye or itching of palms, a cat crossing ones way or a dog howling, you name it and we have it.

But I strongly oppose being very critical about these superstitions. All of us know that every superstition has a logic attached to it. All we have to do is, look for it.

In India, getting a hair cut done on Tuesdays is considered inauspicious. People avoid visiting barbers on Tuesdays. But the superstition has a logical explanation. In earlier times, every village had one, at the most two, barbers. Since, these barbers needed a day off, people avoided visiting them on Tuesdays. This practice is still relevant in India.

Another very popular superstition is that of the black cat. In fact, it's not just for the black cat but any cat. People stop driving when a cat crosses the road. It is considered to be a bad omen. But the logic behind it is simple. If we continue driving when a cat is crossing our path then we might run over it. But instead, if we stop or slow down then we can free ourselves from carrying a guilt.

Superstitions are accompanied by reasoning. They are nothing but a form of knowledge. This knowledge has been put into use and converted into practise.

A supertition can be compared to a fruit. Only that, in this case, we peel the skin and throw the pulp!

Why do Indians wear a bindi on their forehead?

The most common answer to this question is that it indicates the marital status of a woman. This is especially true in northern India. The red bindi of the woman is said to bring prosperity and happiness to the family.

In southern India, girls and women, regardless of their marital status, wear a bindi.

However, a widow in India does not wear a bindi. She can, at the most, wear a black bindi on her forehead. The absence of bindi on a widow or the black bindi signifies her loss.

But the bindi is not just for women. Men too apply 'tilak' on their foreheads, which is another form of bindi. And these 'tilaks' have nothing to do with the marital status of men.

So, why do Hindus (both men and women) wear a bindi in India?

It is to signify and protect the third eye.

A bindi represents the third eye in humans for spiritual sight. This third eye is used to see things, which cannot be seen through physical eyes. The bindi helps us cultivate this spiritual vision. It stands as a reminder of the third eye.

Did you know, the great Hindu saints in the Himalayas, meditate by focusing their energies towards the third eye? It is not as easy as it seems. For normal beings like us, it is hard to continuously focus our energies to the third eye even for 3 minutes.

The day this third eye opens in an individual, will be the day he will attain enlightenment and get closer to God.

However, not wearing a bindi does not necessarily make any Hindu, a lesser Hindu.