essay on Superstition

Superstition is the child of ignorance and unreason. We are said to be superstitious when we subject ourselves to fanciful causes for happenings that seem to be inexplicable, when we blindly believe that natural events can be caused by supernatural forces. Under this supposition, we put our faith in actions that are essentially irrational.

For instance, an ignorant man cannot understand why an eclipse takes place. He invents an imaginary explanation that it is due to devouring of some demonic power, and attributes it to some moral lapse on the part of men. So he undergoes the ritual of puri-ficatory bathing, seeks to exercise the evil spirit by performing various kinds of rites.

Similarly, when men did not know the true causes of epidemics like cholera or small pox, they invented demons who had to be propitiated by 'Knee-worship and praise'. Similarly, when something unforeseen happened it was blindly attributed to the machination of stars. Usually the priestly classes were the beneficiaries of these rituals. Hence, they not only invented these but did everything to keep these alive in the minds of superstitious people.

Today we know better. We have learnt the scientific explanations of phenomena that used to be dreaded as mysterious. Still the superstitious mental habit remains. We look upon simple material things as omens full of mischief. If we stumble, or sneeze, or yawn, if some one calls us from behind, we become upset with fear. We lose our self-confidence, for we see in it the influence of some unseen malevolent power. We are haunted by fear and nervous dread. Even some eminent scientists suffered from such blind fear or inhibition.

The result is that superstition tends to become a bad habit, a demoralising influence in life. It shakes our self-confidence. Even when we are properly enlightened, our minds cannot operate freely. Our rational faculties are paralyzed under the influence of unknown fears. We consult almanacs when we go abroad. We seek priestly benedictions when we undertake an important work; we wear amulets and utter mantars to ward off evil influence. We do not do it consciously; often we do it against our reason. A spell is upon us, and we cannot get rid of it.

There is no doubt that superstition is a serious handicap in modern life; often its effects are calamitous. We suffer from epidemics of smallpox because ignorant people pin their faith in worshipping the goddess Sitala for curse, neglecting vaccination.

Europe has eliminated smallpox by accepting vaccination as a scientific preven­tive. When we are aware of the true causes of things, such habits of minds are ridiculous, a relic of the dark ages. The only cure for superstition is education, the development of the reasoning power and of a scientific mind. Even some scientists are often found to be superstitious. They hold some beliefs, which have come down from the middle Ages of religious domination. The Japanese are an advanced people. Yet many of them have at the core of their mind prejudice and superstition. An enlightened European often does not sit on the thirteenth table or lights his cigarette from the second man by the same sly of the match. Thus, superstition is often a complexion of the mind and infects others.

“There are more things in heaven, and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy" 'says Shakespeare in 'Hamlet'. After all, the world is about four hundred years older than it was in 'Shakespeare's days, and thousands of years older than our rishis and sages, we have accumulated sufficient data to be assured of one thing that material phenomena cannot have non-material origins. If we believe this, we can get rid of the superstitious habit of mind though they die-hard. After all, superstition is religion of only small minds, as pronounced by Burke.