Thanks for sharing! ON SUPERSTITION AS GOOD OR BAD: 1 In a village in India, a boy became quite a scholar. He had studied in the University, and while living in the university town he got some of the European ways. He purchased a clock in the university town, and during the three months' vacation he lived where his grandmamma was and he felt the need of this clock, and so he took it with him to his grandmother's house. Now the grandmamma was naturally averse to this intrusion in the house. The young man brought no English clothing with him, but he felt that this clock was indispensable for him in his study. He dared not bring any English chairs or tables for they were regarded as awful, but he brought the clock at all hazards. The whole family was against it and especially the grandmamma. She could not bear this intrusion, it was something terrible, "Oh" said she, "It is all the time giving forth tick, tick, such an odious sound; break it up, destroy it, throw it out, it is a bad omen, it will engender something awful, it will be the cause of some disaster." She would not be reconciled. The young man did his best to explain, but she would not be pleased. The boy kept the clock in his study despite his grandma‟s remonstrance.
It happened that thieves broke into the house and some jewellery and money were stolen, and the grandmamma got additional evidence in her favour, and exclaimed, "Did I not tell you. that this clock would bring disaster? Thieves came and stole our jewellery and money, but the clock was not stolen. They knew if they took the clock they would be ruined. O, why do you keep this dreadful thing in the house? The boy was very headstrong, and all her ravings were of no avail. The boy kept the clock in his study, and not long after, the father of the boy died, and then the grandmamma became fearful. She cried, "O audacious boy, throw away this terrible omen from the house. How can you dare keep it longer? The boy still kept the clock; and again after a short time the mother of the boy died, and then the grandmamma could not tolerate the clock in the house any longer. Like so many other people, she thought the clock to contain a worm, for they had never seen anything run by machinery. So she thought there must be a worm in the clock to make it move, she could not conceive of its ticking and running of itself. She thought the clock to be the cause of all the troubles in the family; so she caught hold of the clock and took it into her private parlour and put a stone under it, and by the aid of another stone she broke the clock into pieces, wrecking vengeance on the clock. Just so the people very often put this and that together and jump at wrong conclusions. MORAL: Superstition leads to wrong conclusions. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX II Superstitions Related to Crops Chapter 2 <https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/essay/markandeya-purana-study/d/doc1121443.html> *Sasyahan— **Sasyahan* is the crop destroyer who destroys the growth of the crops. For the remedy against this evil spirit one should walk on the left side of field wearing of worn out shoes and causing a *caṇḍāla <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/candala#purana>* to enter in the field on offering *bali <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/bali#purana>* at the outside and praising the *soma <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/soma#purana>* juice or *somāṃbu*. *Kṣudraka—*The evil spirit Kṣudraka <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/kshudraka#purana> is connected with the growth of crops. When Kṣudraka gains a weak place he injures the growth of the crops. For remedy a man should worship <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/worship#hinduism> the moon and then carry out his undertaking and sow his seeds in gladness and contentment with a companion. tathaiva sasyahā cānyaḥ sasyardhimuahanti yaḥ // tasyāpi rakṣāṃ <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/raksha#purana> kurvita jīrṇopānadvidhāraṇāt / tathāpasavyagamanāccaṇḍālasyapraveśanāt // bahirbalipradanācca somāṃbuparikīrtanāt / *Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa*, 48.23 b-25 a; *Ṛgveda <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/rigveda#purana>*, 1.23.19-21: *Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa*, 48.82-85 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX III Superstitions Related to Women Chapter 2 <https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/essay/markandeya-purana-study/d/doc1121443.html> *Parivarta—*The evil spirit Parivrata by name, always inter changes the foetus from one womb to the other womb. Also the words in the mouth of a speaker. A person can fight against Parivarta <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/parivarta#hinduism> by using white mustard and the spells that destroy the Rākṣas <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/raksha#purana> as (*Rakṣoghna <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/rakshoghna#hinduism>* mantra <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/mantra#purana>) *Virūpa and Vikṛta—*These two evil spirits [Virūpa <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/virupa#purana> and Vikṛta <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/vikrita#purana>] who inhabit in the tops of trees <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/tree#hinduism>, mountains <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/mountain#hinduism>, ditches, ramparts and sea and interchange the foetus from one pregnant woman to another. This purāṇa <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/purana#purana> advised that a pregnant woman should not visit a tree <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/tree#hinduism>, a mountain <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/mountain#hinduism>, a rampat, a ditch and the sea *Six Sons of Gaṇḍaprāntarati—*The six sons of Gaṇḍaprāntarati are identified as evil spirits of woman. All are supposed to dwell in women's menses or periods. One should take possession <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/possession#hinduism> of the first four day after menstruation and the thirteenth day. Also powerful on the eleventh day, at dawn, tow others on occasions of śrāddhas <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/shraddha#purana> and alms giving, at festivals. A man should avoid sexual intercourse on these particular days. *Garbhahan— *This word [*garbhahan*] means the foetus-destroyer. This evil spirit destroys the foetus of the pregnant ladies. For the remedy the woman should always remain secure and take protection against this evil spirit. For this woman should take constant personal purification, to write out famous spells, wear auspicious garlands and other decorations, dwell in well cleaned house and should abstain from over exertion.[5] <https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/essay/markandeya-purana-study/d/doc1121503.html#note-e-188558> *Nighna and Mohanī— *The word *nighna <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/nighna#purana>* means slayer and *mohanī <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/mohani#hinduism>* means beguiler. Nighna enters with in the womb and eats foetus of a pregnant woman. Then Mohanī beguiles it as a result of which the offspring born at a later stage as snakes, frogs, tortoise and reptiles or as ordure. Nighna enters into pregnant woman within some particular situations. Such as-at the six months pregnant woman who in waywardness eats flesh, who seeks the shade of trees by night, who stay at a place where three or four roads meet, who stands in a burning ground or cemetary or any place pervaded by strong smells, who leaves <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/leaf#hinduism> off her upper cloths and who weeps at mid-night.[7] <https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/essay/markandeya-purana-study/d/doc1121503.html#note-e-188560> *Ṛtuhārikā— *Ṛtuhārikā is an evil spirit directly connected with a woman after puberty. The word Ṛtuhārikā means the stealer of the menses. This demon spirit rob the monthly courses or periods of women when they have begun <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/begun#hinduism> and before they have begun. For the remedy one should have to bathe at the place of pilgrimage, at temples, besides sacred public objects, on mountain tops, at river confluence, in excavated places etc. *Kucaharā—*The word *kucaharā* means the breasts stealer.[10] <https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/essay/markandeya-purana-study/d/doc1121503.html#note-e-188563> This evil spirit deprives the maiden <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/maiden#hinduism> of their breasts. Kucaharā robs the breast of the maiden whose marriage rite is not performed duly or marriage rite is performed after the prescribed proper time. *Vyañjanahārika—*The word *vyañjanahārika* refers to one who steals the signs of puberty. This evil spirit snatches puberty of married women, if she gets married without duly offering *śrāddha <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/shraddha#purana>* ceremony and without paying debts she owes to her mother or without worshipping her mother. *Smṛtiharā—*The word Smṛtiharā means stealer of the memory.[14] <https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/essay/markandeya-purana-study/d/doc1121503.html#note-e-188567> This evil spirit deprives the memory of women. It can be overcome by staying separately or alone :*Ibid*., 48.13 cd-15 ab; *Ṛgveda <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/rigveda#purana>*, 4.4.4-5; *Atharvaveda <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/atharvaveda#purana>*, 1.28; 5.29; *Taittirīyasaṃhitā*, 1.2.14.1-2 :*Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/markandeyapurana#purana>*, 48.63 b-66: ṣaḍapatyāni kathyante gaṇḍaprāntaratestathā // strīnāṃ rajasyavasthānaṃ tesāṃ kālaś ca me śruṇu / catvaryahāni pūrvāṇi tathaivanyat trayodaśam // ekadeśṃ tathaivānyadapatyaṃ tasya vai dine / anyaddinābhigamane śrāddhadāne tathāpare // parvasvathānyat tasmāttu varjyānyetāni paṇḍitaiḥ / *Ibid*., 48.74 b-77 garbhe strīṇāṃ tathā’nyastu kalalāsi sudāruṇaḥ <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/sudaruna#purana> // tasya rakṣā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/raksha#purana> sadā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/shada#purana> kāryā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/karya#hinduism> nityaṃ <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/nitya#purana> śaucaniṣevaṇāt / prasiddhamantralikhanācchastamālyādidhāraṇāt // viśuddhagehāvasanādanāyāsācca vai dvija <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/dvija#purana> / *Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa*, 48.21 b-23: *Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa*, 48.42-44:yasyā na kriyate sarvaḥ <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/sharva#purana> samyag <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/samyanc#hinduism> vaivāhiko vidhiḥ <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/vidhi#purana> / kālātīto’thavā tasya haratyekākucadvayaṃ // *Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa*, 48.105 samyak <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/samyanc#hinduism> srāddamadattvā ca tathānabhyarcya mātṛkāḥ <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/matrika#purana> / vivāhitāyāḥ kanyāyāḥ harati vyañjanaṃ <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/vyanjana#purana> tathā // *Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa*, 48.106: smṛtiṃ <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/smriti#purana> cāpahartyanyā (purvrttāṃ sāta <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/shata#purana> kanyakā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/kanyaka#purana> / athā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/atha#hinduism> pravṛttā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/pravritta#purana> sā jñeyā) nrṇāṃ sā smrtihārika // viviktadesasovitvāt tasyaścaaśamo bhavet // *Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa*, 48.45-46 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx IV Vivekananda was not only a social reformer and a social activist but was also a saint, a patriot, a poet, a spiritual teacher, a humanist, an educationist, a sociologist and an orator also. As a social reformer he made attempts to uplift the downtrodden masses from poverty, ignorance, bondage, blind belief etc. He said “bondage brings only misery.”[1] <https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/essay/social-philosophy-of-swami-vivekananda/d/doc419378.html#note-e-142975> Therefore he asked everyone to make themselves free from bondage, bondage from superstition, bondage from poverty and bondage from any other degenerating system. In his view superstition makes the brain of man dull. Regarding superstition he says’ Superstition is a great enemy of man, but bigotry is worse, if superstition enters, the brain is gone.”[2] <https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/essay/social-philosophy-of-swami-vivekananda/d/doc419378.html#note-e-142976> Hence he says “Do not run after these superstitions. Better for you and for the race that you become rank atheists, because you would have strength, but if these are degradation and death, shame on humanity that strong men should spend their time in inventing allegories to explain the most rotten superstitions of the world. Be bold, do not try to explain everything that way. The fact is that we have many superstitions, many bad spots and sores on our body. These have to be excised, cut off, and destroyed but these do not destroy our religion, our national life, our spirituality.”[3] <https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/essay/social-philosophy-of-swami-vivekananda/d/doc419378.html#note-e-142977> Vivekananda observed that the illiterate people observed peculiar systems of superstitions to worship the Gods. The educated man should avoid all superstitions, omen, and blind beliefs. Every system which makes us superstitious, makes us weak, must be completely avoided. As a humanistic philosopher and social reformer he always thought for the betterment of the poor and backward people of India <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/india#hinduism>. He had realized that until weaker and low class people were not well kept and maintained through proper education and nourishment, the society could not develop. So he suggested very strongly that “The only way of getting our divine nature manifested is by helping others to do the same. If there is inequality in nature, still there must be equal chance for all or if greater for some and some less, the weaker should be given more chance than the strong.”[4] <https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/essay/social-philosophy-of-swami-vivekananda/d/doc419378.html#note-e-142978> In other words, a Brahman <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/brahman#hinduism> is not so much in need of education as a Chandala <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/candala#hinduism>. If the ten of Brahman needs one teacher, that of Chandala needs ten. For greater help must be given to him whom nature has not endowed with an acute intellect from birth. Swami Vivekananda <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/swami-vivekananda#vedanta> was not a man living in an ivory tower. His feet were firmly planted on the earth. Nothing concerning man would escape his notice. Man was a living God for him. Man was divine but his divinity was hidden by a veil of poverty, ignorance and superstition. His chief concern was to remove this veil so that the divinity ‘already’ in man might come out in the open. While in the west he talked of India’s great spiritual heritage, on return to India the refrain of his ‘Lectures from Colombo to Alomar’ was uplift of the masses, eradication of the caste virus, promotion of the study of science Industrialization of the country, removal of poverty the end of the colonial rule, in brief he was preoccupied with his attack on the countries socioeconomic ills. It is suspiring that the solutions that this philosopher-monk offered are still the best. Vivekananda‘s social reforms can be discussed under the following heads religion, education, caste, culture, women upliftment, mass upliftment etc. It must be noted here that Vivekananda did not believe in reform. He believed in growth He says “I donot believe in reform; I believe in growth. I do not done to put myself in the position of god and dictate to our society; this way than should move and not that.”[5] <https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/essay/social-philosophy-of-swami-vivekananda/d/doc419378.html#note-e-142979> His ideal is growth, expansion, development on national lines. KR IRS 21122 On Wed, 2 Nov 2022 at 08:56, Markendeya Yeddanapudi < [email protected]> wrote: > > > -- > *Mar*The Ordinary Mechanics of Life > > > > The Dismal Science, Economics, by making greed honourable, has become the > accepted pandemic, sidelining ecology and making nature into sick and > dismal nature. We no longer bother about our basic emotional functioning > bond with nature and the inescapable natural rhythm of nature in which as > an organism of the Biosphere we too are bound. We created the unnatural > machine, the economic man, who fights ecology. And you and I are supposed > to be those machines, fighting nature and repudiating our very partnership > in and as nature. We no longer feel emotions and interact emotionally with > nature, but just live as the consumers of commercialized emotions of the > cinema and TV. > > Living means, living in nature as nature. Every cell, limb and dimension > of you actively participates in nature, with no limb or organ becoming > frozen due to non use. You continuously breathe, that is inhale messages > from nature and exhale your contributions after learning and getting > inspired by the inhalation. The mind does not note this continuous feature > of understanding which directly enters the internal hormonal communication. > Nature does not tax the mind too intensely, and nature flashes revelations > into the mind, revelations which take over the hormones like a cyclone. > Revelations shatter to the core and enlightenment is electromagnetic. We > are basically electromagnetic fields and the manifestations of > electromagnetism. > > Thanks to economics, we no longer live as nature, but are busy destroying > nature, making life as mechanics and not as ecological participation as > living. We no longer can breathe, smell and sense. We call it bias, the sin > in mechanized or scientific outlook. Thanks to the mechanical outlook, you > go on analyzing or simply dissecting everything into interacting parts to > know how the components of the machine interact, but just cannot feel the > whole, as an emanation from the sea of emotions-nature. The ultimate > superstition is, that machines can understand better, because they are not > emotional. We do not give place for breathing and sensing in understanding > which automatically enters the internal hormonal communication. We want to > understand nature and control nature by making nature ignorant and > helpless. The very core of understanding as feeling resulting from > breathing leading to emotions is being scoffed at. In the name of science > we want to eliminate this basic feature of nature in us from our life. > Machines cut us from us, nature as teacher, via air flow and also via > electromagnetism and quantum entanglement. > > The deadly superstition that eliminates nature and substitutes nature with > machine is robbing us of real living. Economics champions the mechanization > of life, with machine for everything and the elimination of nature in the > functioning of our organs. > > You can become an emotional complement of a tree, but you cannot > emotionally interact with a machine.Te science fundamentalism, that cuts > our emotional bonds has developed into a strong mechanized stranglehold. > > How to make the Universities learn that nature actually teaches directly > via breathing, smelling and sensing and that mechanization of learning robs > one of the very basic meaning of life. > > YM > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CAL5XZopMSoukU8HLmSBGMeXyg%3D04zPGajbFYTmQU-1dpvbvkVw%40mail.gmail.com.
