shrihara





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1. A sack full of rice will be spoilt when touched by women in periods! it will also get spoilt if touched by women after having sex



2. Coconut tree, Ashoka Tree, Banyan Tree etc are considered sacred



3. The tail end of cows is considered as most sacred part as fortune Lakshmi lives there!!,



4. The "VAASTU" as a guide for floor plans of a house is a superstitious system,



5. East is the most preferred direction for all activities (I've seen some of them preferring to sit facing east even in the office),



6. Do not proceed , if a cat crosses your way, it brings omen



7. Looking at cat in the morning is jinx,



8. Looking at mother's face or picture of God as soon as you open your eyes in the morning will bring good luck for that day,



9. Giving or taking anything in the left hand is bad (you know what left hand is used for in India )



10. Never ask the question "where are you going? " while they are leaving house, its purpose will not be fulfilled.



11. Repeatedly yawning indicates that someone is remembering you,



12. Sneezing odd no. of times indicates that something bad could happen,



13. Sneezing once when you make a statement indicates that what you said is true,



14. If a lizard makes a sound when you make a statement, it indicates that what you said is true ,



15. Tuesdays & Saturdays are inauspicious for doing anything new or good deeds,



16. Monday is inauspicious day for shaving and thursday is inauspicious day for washing one's hair.



17. You can't have non-veg on certain days,



18. There is particular timing during daytime called "Rahukaal", where it is considered as inauspicious for doing anything new or good deeds,



19. There are two months in a year which are inauspicious,



20. No moon day is inauspicious,



21. Right eye twitching is good for men, left eye twitching is good for women.



22. Never sleep with your head facing north or west,



23. cawing of crow or itching of right palm indicates arrival of guests,



24. Never wash the front courtyard immediately after someone leaves the house,



25. If there is itching on the right palm (left for female) you can get some money or favors,



26. Unusual winking of eyes is a symptom of ill, luck or decease,



27. Going below the ladder is jinx,



28. Never cross or jump across the worshiped pumpkins or coconuts on the road.



29. During house warming ceremony, the milk is heated in a vessel in such a way that it will overflow towards east direction,



30. If you see cat giving birth, then it brings the good luck



31. Open the front door during dusk, so that Lakshmi (fortune) enters the house



32. Never sweep the house during night time or Lakshmi (fortune) will not enter your house.



33. Cutting nails, hair-cutting, shaving or stitching cloth after sun set is a bad practice, (obviously coz of no electricity during old times, doing these in the dark could be dangerous, but its still believed to be a bad practice),



34. Taking a teaspoon of curd with litle sugar before exam will bring good luck I had made a list of superstition followed blindly in India on facebook, posting it here. Please contribute the superstitions that you have come across.1. A sack full of rice will be spoilt when touched by women in periods! it will also get spoilt if touched by women after having sex2. Coconut tree, Ashoka Tree, Banyan Tree etc are considered sacred3. The tail end of cows is considered as most sacred part as fortune Lakshmi lives there!!,4. The "VAASTU" as a guide for floor plans of a house is a superstitious system,5. East is the most preferred direction for all activities (I've seen some of them preferring to sit facing east even in the office),6. Do not proceed , if a cat crosses your way, it brings omen7. Looking at cat in the morning is jinx,8. Looking at mother's face or picture of God as soon as you open your eyes in the morning will bring good luck for that day,9. Giving or taking anything in the left hand is bad (you know what left hand is used for in India10. Never ask the question "where are you going? " while they are leaving house, its purpose will not be fulfilled.11. Repeatedly yawningindicates that someone is remembering you,12. Sneezing odd no. of times indicates that something bad could happen,13. Sneezing once when you make a statement indicates that what you said is true,14. If a lizard makes a sound when you make a statement, it indicates that what you said is true ,15. Tuesdays & Saturdays are inauspicious for doing anything new or good deeds,16. Monday is inauspicious day for shaving and thursday is inauspicious day for washing one's hair.17. You can't have non-veg on certain days,18. There is particular timing during daytime called "Rahukaal", where it is considered as inauspicious for doing anything new or good deeds,19. There are two months in a year which are inauspicious,20. No moon day is inauspicious,21. Right eye twitching is good for men, left eye twitching is good for women.22. Never sleep with your head facing north or west,23. cawing of crow or itching of right palm indicates arrival of guests,24. Never wash the front courtyard immediately after someone leaves the house,25. If there is itching on the right palm (left for female) you can get some money or favors,26. Unusual winking of eyes is a symptom of ill, luck or decease,27. Going below the ladder is jinx,28. Never cross or jump across the worshiped pumpkins or coconuts on the road.29. During house warming ceremony, the milk is heated in a vessel in such a way that it will overflow towards east direction,30. If you see cat giving birth, then it brings the good luck31. Open the front door during dusk, so that Lakshmi (fortune) enters the house32. Never sweep the house during night time or Lakshmi (fortune) will not enter your house.33. Cutting nails, hair-cutting, shaving or stitching cloth after sun set is a bad practice, (obviously coz of no electricity during old times, doing these in the dark could be dangerous, but its still believed to be a bad practice),34. Taking a teaspoon of curd with litle sugar before exam will bring good luck The following 3 users Like shrihara's post: 3 users Like shrihara's post

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Joined: Mar 2010 #2 That's a good list. Somethings on top of my head:



35. Turning on the lights in all rooms of the house so that Lakshmi doesn't miss your house.

36. Coming across a widow is bad luck.

37. Sneezing while starting to some place will make you reach that place late unless you sit down and have some water.

38. There are whole bunch of superstitions associated with lizards. Depending on what part of your body they come into contact different things will happen.

39. If a dog starts wailing then something bad will happen. The following 1 user Likes Lije's post: 1 user Likes Lije's post

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Also, nice additions, Lije Excellent list, Sri Harsha. This will certainly be added to, I can't think of ay you haven't already added, but there are so many that this can take some time to finish!Also, nice additions, Lije "Fossil rabbits in the Precambrian"

~ J.B.S.Haldane, on being asked to falsify evolution.

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Joined: Sep 2010 #4 Well, I have read this all infomration about Superstitions and I just want to say that some of them are good while some of them are bad. I remember some of them that are as follows that are bad that some one asks you 'where are you going?', some body sneeze odd no; of times. While others like Eating curds with jaggery, sighting a married lady with flowers on the head & kumkum on fore head are good.

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Joined: Mar 2010 #5 (17-Sep-2010, 10:28 AM) nikjerry Wrote: Well, I have read this all infomration about Superstitions and I just want to say that some of them are good while some of them are bad. I remember some of them that are as follows that are bad that some one asks you 'where are you going?', some body sneeze odd no; of times. While others like Eating curds with jaggery, sighting a married lady with flowers on the head & kumkum on fore head are good.

Sorry we do not 'cherry pick' here when it come to superstitions. They are all irrational and that does not make any of them good.



Sorry we do not 'cherry pick' here when it come to superstitions. They are all irrational and that does not make any of them good.

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Joined: Apr 2010 #6 (17-Sep-2010, 10:28 AM) nikjerry Wrote: Well, I have read this all infomration about Superstitions and I just want to say that some of them are good while some of them are bad. I remember some of them that are as follows that are bad that some one asks you 'where are you going?', some body sneeze odd no; of times.



There are no "Good superstitions", please go through the this thread.



[quote='nikjerry' pid='2529' dateline='1284699484']

While others like Eating curds with jaggery, sighting a married lady with flowers on the head & kumkum on fore head are good.

Eating curd with jaggery is NOT superstition, its a choice of food.

Saying eating curd with jaggery will bring luck, fortune etc is superstitious.



Avoiding eating curd is a choice of food.

Avoiding eating curd on Wednesdays is superstitious.



Wearing flowers on head or kumkum is a choice of fashion.

Forcing a widow not to wear kumkum, flowers is superstition and irrational. Eating curd with jaggery is NOT superstition, its a choice of food.Saying eating curd with jaggery will bring luck, fortune etc is superstitious.Avoiding eating curd is a choice of food.Avoiding eating curd on Wednesdays is superstitious.Wearing flowers on head or kumkum is a choice of fashion.Forcing a widow not to wear kumkum, flowers is superstition and irrational.

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Joined: Jul 2010 #7 (30-Apr-2010, 11:53 PM) Lije Wrote: That's a good list. Somethings on top of my head:



35. Turning on the lights in all rooms of the house so that Lakshmi doesn't miss your house.

36. Coming across a widow is bad luck.

37. Sneezing while starting to some place will make you reach that place late unless you sit down and have some water.

38. There are whole bunch of superstitions associated with lizards. Depending on what part of your body they come into contact different things will happen.

39. If a dog starts wailing then something bad will happen.

I just got back from a trip to the Kamakshi shrine at Kanchipuram.



Apparently, the shrine has a golden lizard statue that you can touch to "cure" yourself from any bad luck that accrues from coming into contact with lizards. I just got back from a trip to the Kamakshi shrine at Kanchipuram.Apparently, the shrine has a golden lizard statue that you can touch to "cure" yourself from any bad luck that accrues from coming into contact with lizards. The following 1 user Likes TTCUSM's post: 1 user Likes TTCUSM's post

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Joined: Mar 2010 #8 (02-Oct-2010, 03:47 AM) TTCUSM Wrote: (30-Apr-2010, 11:53 PM) Lije Wrote: That's a good list. Somethings on top of my head:



35. Turning on the lights in all rooms of the house so that Lakshmi doesn't miss your house.

36. Coming across a widow is bad luck.

37. Sneezing while starting to some place will make you reach that place late unless you sit down and have some water.

38. There are whole bunch of superstitions associated with lizards. Depending on what part of your body they come into contact different things will happen.

39. If a dog starts wailing then something bad will happen.

I just got back from a trip to the Kamakshi shrine at Kanchipuram.



Apparently, the shrine has a golden lizard statue that you can touch to "cure" yourself from any bad luck that accrues from coming into contact with lizards.

what about the lizard's bad luck for coming in contact with humans?

what about the lizard's bad luck for coming in contact with humans? The following 5 users Like Sajit's post: 5 users Like Sajit's post

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Joined: Apr 2010 #9 (02-Oct-2010, 06:02 AM) Sajit Wrote: what about the lizard's bad luck for coming in contact with humans?





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Joined: Feb 2011 #10 Here is a list of superstitions prevalent in North India especially in and around Delhi:

40. Placing Neem(Margosa) leaves around people suffering from chicken-pox.

41. Calling measles and chicken-pox by the name "Maata". It is very common among the people of Punjab,Haryana,Himachal and Uttarakhand. The disease is attributed to a visiting 'goddess' or 'maata'. Hence the name.

42. Complete abstinence from Non-Vegetarian food during fever and chicken-pox etc. Again, the "Maata" dynamic at work here. Apparently the goddess does not like the flesh of animals or eggs.

43. Not resting under a 'Peepal' tree after sunset for the fear of malevolent spirits.

44. There used to be a concept called 'telad' in the Punjabi community. It dictates that a boy-child born after three successive girls is prone to the 'evil eye' and hence must be subjected to ritual 'protection' and purification.

45. Not sweeping the floors of the house during or just after a 'pooja' ceremony.

46. Not consuming milk and mutton during the same meal. I guess this has Jewish roots. I remember reading something about "not boiling the kid in its mother's milk" in the Old Testament.

47. Covering up the faces of idols of gods during a solar eclipse.

48. Ritual bath after a solar eclipse.

49. Placing a sprig of Tulsi in containers of milk during a solar eclipse.

50. The 'buri nazar waale tera moonh kaala'(you who regard us with an evil eye, may your face be blackened!) phenomenon. Widely practiced throughout India, this is common to the Sikh,Muslim,Jain and Hindu communities. It involves placing a grotesque,hideous mask prominently on the facades of newly-built houses/shops or upon newly-purchased vehicles. It is called 'nazar battoo' in common language. It is supposed to attract the 'evil eye' towards itself and destroy it. The more hideous the features of the mask, the more its benefits. Sometimes it is an image of a black shoe instead of a mask. The words 'buri nazar waale...' may be found inscribed prominently in some cases.

51. The superstition of 'Sai Jyoti'. Shirdi Sai Baba is a recent deity in the North Indian pantheon and is set to supplant the staples of Hinduism such as Matarani(Durga),Krishna and Shiva. As such, 'Sai Kirtans' are increasingly becoming popular among the people of North especially Delhi. Many of these 'kirtans'(religious gatherings) have a thing called 'Akhand Sai Jyoti'. It is a lamp full of water with some oil/ghee floating atop and a wick placed in it. It is lit in remembrance of some miracle performed by Sai Baba when he lit lamps using water only( wishful thinking!). Most people call this modern 'Akhand Jyoti' a miracle of Sai Baba and are innocent of the knowledge that oil floats on water hence the wick is fed by the layer of oil on top. The organizers make a great show of pouring the water in the lamps and chant 'O Sai help us light the lamps with water'. But,the water is secretly mixed with oil and ghee. I saw this at a 'kirtan' once and pointed it out to my aunt. I was unduly silenced and the people organizing the kirtan glowered at me for laying bare their trickery.

52. Not buying steel/iron products on Saturdays for the fear of attracting the unwanted attention of 'Shanidev' or Saturn. Iron/steel is sacred to 'Shanidev' who is essentially a malevolent influence.

53. Always donating a sum of Rs.101 instead of Rs.100 or Rs.51 instead of Rs.50. The extra rupee is supposed to bring good luck.

54. The rituals practiced during the 'mourning period' following a death in the family are absurd in the extreme.

55. Burning dried red-chillies to ward off evil influences. This creates an evil influence in turn-the irritating smoke that seems to choke the throat and burn the eyes!

56. A very absurd superstition is that pertaining to 'dosha' or flaws pertaining to the horoscope. People go to incredible lengths to iron out these flaws in the astrological/planetary scheme.

57. Consulting astrological charts and horoscopes before marriage or making an important decision.



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(18-Feb-2011, 01:41 AM) tarun Wrote: 46. Not consuming milk and mutton during the same meal. I guess this has Jewish roots. I remember reading something about "not boiling the kid in its mother's milk" in the Old Testament.

I suspect that there are quite a few superstitions that we have borrowed, and a whole lot that we have exported. Some, such as the one about bringing bad luck by walking across a cat's path and the one about walking under ladders are both almost universal today.

Excellent list, Tarun!I suspect that there are quite a few superstitions that we have borrowed, and a whole lot that we have exported. Some, such as the one about bringing bad luck by walking across a cat's path and the one about walking under ladders are both almost universal today. "Fossil rabbits in the Precambrian"

~ J.B.S.Haldane, on being asked to falsify evolution.

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58. Spilling oil from the container onto the floor is a sign of bad luck and ill omen.

59. If a framed picture of someone falls off the nail on the wall and the glass breaks, the person in the photo will be met by Death, or the family in that photo will suffer greatly.

60. Whilst praying for someone if the diya or oil lamp flame goes out, the guy you're praying for is going to die.

61. In the Tamil Almanac (the "Snake book" as I called it in my younger days), there is a section called Lizard fortunes. If a lizard falls on (body part), this (event) will occur. Best example is head, death respectively.

62. Cutting hair on Tuesday is a no-no. barber shops are closed too!

63. Nail cutting after sun-set.

64. Never venture out on a day of a solar eclipse and take an oil bath afterward.

65. Seeing a religious (Hindu) procession on the road purely by chance on your daily travels brings good luck.

66. If you trip before leaving the house in the morning, sit down, drink a glass of water and then only leave.

67. Cats crying in pain or otherwise is bad omen.

68. Milk boiling over the stove is a bad sign.

69. Seeing a peacock is good, hearing it's god-awful cry is bad. (On a personal note, I heard these peacocks go off like a damn siren on my trip to Warwick Castle. It rained the whole day )

70.Seeing an elephant on your travels is good luck.

71. It's bad of you to exchange items over the threshold separating two rooms.

72. Never sleep with your head facing north!

73. Bury your milk teeth in the soil (don't recall why)

74. You don't go to bed wearing new clothes. Something to do with the fact that dead people are buried/cremated in new clothes (?)

The first three superstitions are predominantly shown on Tamil soap operas as an evil premonition. I got a couple:58. Spilling oil from the container onto the floor is a sign of bad luck and ill omen.59. If a framed picture of someone falls off the nail on the wall and the glass breaks, the person in the photo will be met by Death, or the family in that photo will suffer greatly.60. Whilst praying for someone if the diya or oil lamp flame goes out, the guy you're praying for is going to die.61. In the Tamil Almanac (the "Snake book" as I called it in my younger days), there is a section called Lizard fortunes. If a lizard falls on (body part), this (event) will occur. Best example is head, death respectively.62. Cutting hair on Tuesday is a no-no. barber shops are closed too!63. Nail cutting after sun-set.64. Never venture out on a day of a solar eclipse and take an oil bath afterward.65. Seeing a religious (Hindu) procession on the road purely by chance on your daily travels brings good luck.66. If you trip before leaving the house in the morning, sit down, drink a glass of water and then only leave.67. Cats crying in pain or otherwise is bad omen.68. Milk boiling over the stove is a bad sign.69. Seeing a peacock is good, hearing it's god-awful cry is bad. (On a personal note, I heard these peacocks go off like a damn siren on my trip to Warwick Castle. It rained the whole day70.Seeing an elephant on your travels is good luck.71. It's bad of you to exchange items over the threshold separating two rooms.72. Never sleep with your head facing north!73. Bury your milk teeth in the soil (don't recall why)74. You don't go to bed wearing new clothes. Something to do with the fact that dead people are buried/cremated in new clothes (?)The first three superstitions are predominantly shown on Tamil soap operas as an evil premonition. "It's alright, I rarely meet anyone who's able to read it properly. Although personally, I never thought that it to be an odd of a name. Once I give people the pronunciation, they tend to remember my name by easily associating me with it. A unique face, a unique moniker."

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