The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-06-11
Ghings abroad.
Superstition in India,
The AbIeet Belief of the IEindoOs in
Luck and 0nlens.

The AbIeet Belief of the IEindoOs in
Luck and omens.
There is scarcely any country in the
world so blinded by superstition as India.
The mind of Hindoo is tinotured to such
an extent with the conviction of a super
natural agency directing his every step,
whether for good or for evil, that each
moment almost Of his life he looks for
some omen indicating approval or disap-
proval Of what he might at the time be
engaged iu. or be about to engage in.
An auspicious moment is chosen for the
the performance Of every important duty
10 life, and ia reference 20 those occur
reuccs beyond the control of man steps
are instantly taken to ascertain whether
they are likely 10 prove lucky or unlueky;
aud, if the latter, such measures are adopt
ed By way of propitiatory sacrifices to the
gods as may operate to avert the impend-
ing evil No sooner is a son born than
the Brahmiu, who is the family priest,
draws up his horoscope, and is able to an-
nounee weether the path in life Of the
child will be smooth and unrutfied, or if
be is destined to a rough and stormy fu-
ture. When he has reached a marriagea-
BILE age the Brahmias again appear on the
scene aud are asked to fix an auspicious
day, nay, even the hour aud minute when
the nuptial knot IS TO be tied; aud should,
through some misehanee, that particular
minute be allowed to pass away without
the ceremony taking place, the marriage
has to be put eff ill some other propitious
day that has subsequently to be fixed up
on. aud which 10 some cases1night not oc-
eur for a year or two. Even after his
death man cannot be secure from being
made a victim to omens, for, when that
event does happen, the priests are at work
to ascertain whether the day he died was
favorable to his happiness or otherwise,
and, according as they decide, are regula-
ted the ceremonies to be performed aud
the sacrifices to be offered for the release
Of his soul from purgatory But it is not
in important events Of his life only that a
Hiudoo will look forward to and be guild
ed by omcns, it is lameutable to notice the
extezt to which, in the ordinary affairs OF
everyday life, he allows this superstitious
belief to gain an ascendauey over him.
He will not undertake journey unless on
an auspicious day, and even after he has
once started, he viii perhaps return, hav-
ing on the road perceived some omen in
dicatins that his journey viii not be pros
porous Belief in omens has so firmly
implanted Itself in the mind Of Hindoo
a. to resist every attempt to root out by
argument the folly Of this great weakness,
ana | have noticed with much surprise
that, though a man has relinquished the
religion of his father as being false and
puerile, his faith in omens has remained
unchanged, or, rather, it has taken such
hold of him that frequently in spite of
himself, he is influenced BY them. And
more astonishing still is the fact that Ma
hometans, though they profess to have a
contempt for Hindoo superstitions, are, IN
this respect, in no way superior to the
latter, having as implicit faith in these
ridiculous representations as those whose
religion they affect to despise. shall
now concisely notice few omens which
are still very commonly believed in.
sNEEZING A VERY BAD SIGN.
Should person about to undertake a
Journey or commence any work hear an
other sneeze, he will consider it good or
bad omen, according as the latter has
sneezed once or twice. If once only, he
will delay his departure for few minutes
Or put off his work until some other time.
| So strongly and so generally is this believed
in that often serious consequences follow
on person sneezing inopportunely, Ser
wants have been known to be dismissed by
their masters, courtiers to be deprived of
/ the favor of princes and rajahs for having
been inadvertently the medium through
whom an unlucky omen was displayed,
The screeehing of an owl is believed to
portend death. So thoroughly are the
people convinced of this that no sooner are
] its dismal notes heard than quite commo-
ton is created, aud it often happens that
at dead of night the whole village turns
out to drive away this bird of ill-omen,
| Great care is also taken not to mention the
name of child 10 the night, for fear an
owl should hear it, the popular belief being
that it would in that case repeat the name
every night, aud the child, in consequence
would pine away and die. The scratching
of the palm of the hand is believed to
prognosticate that the person will receive
some money, while the scratching of the
sole of the foot indicates that long jour
ney will have to be undertaken. To heal
the word "bunder" monkey early in The
morning is considered very uulucky, and
evils of every description are looked for
ward to as likely to happen during the day
And yet monkey is one of the sacred an
imals of the Hindoos. At Benares thous
ands of them are allowed to live in garden,
specially set apart for them, and are fed by
all classes of people, who, in so doing
consider they are performing an act oi
great charity aud devotion.
The snake is never mentioned at night
the popular belief being that it is sure tc
make its appearance if its name be uttered
If there is occasion to speak about it thC
word keera (reptile) is used instead
There exists superstitious belief that
should credit be given for the first articl
sold in the morning, that days busines
will be attended with great loss. Even i