1. Superstitions of Kerala

This Blog posting on Superstitions of Kerala was originally given as an assignment to the trainees of the English optional , Govt. College of Teacher Education, Calicut, to be completed and submitted by email immediately after the X’mas vacation 2007.

On submission, I had edited and classified them under three heads :

1. Gods and rituals
2. People and habits
3. Animals and birds

C. Praveen, Teacher Educator , Govt. CTE, Trivandrum

Note: * The name of the trainee who submitted the entry follows
each superstition.
* The trainees are also members of the English Club of the College.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
1. Gods and Rituals

* Effect of a goddess’ wrath

The belief, if you failed to worship Bhadrakal, [ the furious face of the Hindu goddess Durga] you would be cursed with smallpox had been prevalent in the ancient days. Negligence on the part of the devotee in performing rituals or worshipping the deity could spark the fury of the goddess. The wrathful goddess would then curse him/her with illness, so that the accursed learns a lesson .This belief prevailed for a long time and people even approached astrologers to perform some remedial rituals.
[ Sreeja T.S]


* Significance of going round the banyan tree in the temple premises
According to a Hindu belief, the lower part of the banyan tree is resided by Lord Brahma, the middle part, Lord Vishnu and the upper part, Lord Siva. One has to go around a Banyan tree seven times. Circling the tree at dawn brings recovery from diseases and luck to have children. It is also believed that going around the banyan tree will reduce the ill effects of Saturn on devotees.

The banyan tree has a special importance as it purifies the air in a temple. This concept has a scientific aspect too. Only two plants in the world have the ability to produce Ozone viz. Banyan tree and Basil. The Ozone produced by the Banyan tree, though it is in a very slight amount, improves health and refreshes the mind. That’s why people say that one should circle the Banyan tree when one visits a temple.
[Rakesh E.T]

* Pilgrims touching Priest and the Head Priest is forbidden

The Priest and the Head Priest are the ones that make ceremonial offerings to the deity, in temples. Their duty involves among other things , bathing the idol with perfumed sandal paste. Many come to the temple and it is often difficult to know any thing about the people who visit temples .Often people who don’t bathe and hence are unclean come too and by touching the Priest or the Head Priest while receiving offerings he/ she pollutes both the priest and the idol. Polluting and idol is considered inauspicious.
[Aiswarya Lakshmi]

* A ritual for family deities

Chavoot (1)1 is a custom that is still prevalent in South Kerala, especially in the districts of Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam. After the seasons of cultivation and harvest, it’s the right time for the head of the family to repose and then to perform ceremonies like Chavoot. Its conducted for the departed forefathers and also for the family deities (Paradaivangal)[2] like Madan, Marutha,Pey,Yogeshwaran
[3] and so forth. The eldest member of the family must choose a Friday or Tuesday for performing this rite. After dusk, one places a lamp and neranazhi [4] on the cow dung smeared courtyard of ones house. Thereafter bestows avil [5 ]mixture,
ada [6], bananas, jaggery and sugar upon a thooshanila [7 ]for each one of the deities separately. Toddy and liquor are also placed along with it. One then takes some water in a kindi [8] and by offering prayers, one sprinkles it over the offerings in the thooshanila. After ten minutes one shares these among the members of the family. It’s believed that if one performs this rite with due ceremony, the head as well as the entire members of the family along with its flora and fauna, will be redeemed from all miseries and misfortunes.

Foot notes:

*1Chavoot is the name of a ritual performed in Kerala for the deceased members and family deities.
*2 paradaivangal means family deities.
*3Madan, Marutha, Pey and Yogeswaran are family deities in Kerala .
*4neranazhi is a nazhi (measuring vessel in Kerala) full of rice or paddy.
*5avil is flattened rice.
*6ada is a kind of flour cake.
*7thooshanila is the end portion of a plantain leaf.
*8kindi is a brass water pot with a spout.
[ Sreeja T.S]


* Significance of the ‘Parayidal’ ritual

Most temples in Kerala observe a ritual known as ‘Parayidal’ as a part of their festival. The temple idol is mounted on an elephant and it visits neighbouring houses in a procession. The temple priest leads the procession. Various drums like Chenda, Maddalam etc. are played during the procession . Bursting crackers is an indispensable part of the procession.

Young maidens sweep the courtyard of the house and smears the surface with cow’s dung. After the cleaning of the courtyard they draw designs using rice flour. Such designs have been called as “Kolams”. A plantain leaf is placed on the “Kolam” and a lamp is lit along with offerings to the Hindu God, Ganesha.

When the temple idol arrives at the courtyard, a “Para”, which is a basin for measurement, filled with paddy is placed in front of the lamp. After liturgies the Brahmins offer paddy to the God . This religious ceremony comes to an end when the priest gets his ‘dakshina’ or token money for favours rendered. This ritual is observed to bring prosperity. It also helps to save one from evil resulting from ones star of birth.

[Rakesh E.T]




2. People and Habits

* Significance of drawing designs on the floor, every morning

In India, a few communities still follow the custom of drawing designs on the floor. It is an usual sight in the South Indian states of Karnataka and Tamilnadu. After sweeping the courtyard clean, the women take bath, apply vermilion on their forehead and draw the designs on the floor. Unmarried women also do the same. Usually the designs are not that of human beings and other objects. They draw designs in a swindling, up and down and criss-cross manner using dough rice. Some draw floral designs. After making the outline, they also puff it by adding green, red, blue and yellow powders. It is believed that these are for the opulence and goodness of their own residence.
[Aiswarya Lakshmi]

*Lighting lamp at dawn

It is an old age custom in Kerala. Early in the morning after taking bath, people light the lamp. They believe that this would bring home the goddess of wealth , Lakshmi. Some people chant the Harinama Keerthana at that time. They believe that doing so also make their mind pure and those living in the house will prosper.
[Ragini.K]

* Bathing to overcome evil ‘Kani’

It was an old belief practiced by Brahmins and the upper caste . When they set out on a journey or a new enterprise , if they happen to see the lower caste people on the way , it was considered an ill omen. So they temporarily delayed the trip, cleansed themselves by taking bath again continued the journey or venture.

It may be noted that the bath has little significance. What matters is the person seen first , or the kani when the journey commenced. The belief was that, if they took a bath again not only will the body become pure and energetic but also the blemishes of the kani will vanish.

For many Keralites kani is very important even today and it is reflected in the popular festival , Vishu.

[Ayisha .M]


*On wearing golden anklets

Gold is synonymous with Goddess Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth). Elders believe that wearing gold on legs is a serious abuse. One can very well wear it on the neck, nose or ear. It adds to the beauty also. According to traditional health science, the constant rubbing of gold on the ‘vital nerve centre’ (Nagamarmmam) of legs may cause rheumatism. Hence wearing gold anklets on ones legs is discouraged.
[Roshan.T.Mathew ]


* Stepping on winnowing fan is forbidden

A winnowing fan is made of reed or sliced bamboo. It has four sides , and is flat. It is used to clean and separate corn or paddy from chaff. Food is sacred. Stepping on a winnowing fan in addition to showing disrespect to food makes it unclean. Elders consider stepping on a winnowing fan even by innocent children a sin.
[Ameer Ali Kaderi]

* Direction for sleeping

Elders often say that each direction has its own gods according to Vastu, the Indian Science of Architecture.

While sleeping, placing of head in the northern direction is forbidden as only the dead body is ever placed in the northern direction . Placing the head in the eastern, and southern direction is acceptable.

To some local scientists the earth’s magnetic circle which moving from the northern direction repulses the magnetic circle of the human body and results in hysteria.

[Roby Mathew ]

*The best way to rise from bed

It is considered best to rise from the bed by turning to the right side with folded palms. In addition to being auspicious doing so makes ones mind fresh. Often good deeds are performed with the right hand. Religious rites , sacrificial offerings, consumption of food etc. place importance for the right side.
[Ragini.K]

* Using the Grinding stone after dark is forbidden

Before mechanization women entirely depended on the grinding stone. Traditionally many abstain from grinding in the evening. This is because evening is the time of lighting lamps for worship. In addition , the noise that the grinding stone makes disturbs one who prays. It is also widely believed that evening is the time when the Goddess of wealth visits houses and the noise of a grinding machine might discomfort the Goddess.

Further, in olden days when there was no electricity , lamps were used to light the rooms and the grinding stone was usually placed near the kitchen . When it is dark one seldom notices lizards , ants or cockroaches . Some of these could be poisonous .
[Ameer Ali Kaderi]

*Effect of consuming stolen food

It is widely believed that consumption of stolen food causes hiccough. We know that consumption of hot and spicy food materials or eating rashly often results in hiccough. Children it has been observed eat delicious food items covertly. Then they consume in a reckless manner resulting in hiccough.
[Remadevi K.P]


* Fisherwoman and Sea relationship

Whenever the "Marakkan" (husband of a fisher woman) goes to sea for fishing his ‘Marakkathy’(wife) should sit in the hut offering prayer to God and the Sea Mother till his return. This is a traditional belief and custom among the fisher folk of Kerala. Failure to do so and indulging in flirting with men will cause the Sea Mother to become angry and She will drown the boat of the Marakkan.
[Sindhu.S]

* On Curses

Popular Indian mythology gives several instances of sufferings caused by the effect of curses by sages and celestial angels . To the people of Kerala, particularly the older generation , curses are bound to have its effect.
[Shameera K.M]


*On marrying ones own uncle’s daughter

Marrying ones Uncle’s daughter was an old custom in Kerala. The Uncle referred to here is the mother's brother. It was also believed that such a marriage will result in better family ties and a more cordial relationship. Further the family property wouldn’t diminish as dowry.

The practice is not very popular in Kerala now.
[Sindhu. S]


*The effect of the star ‘Chithira’

There is a wide spread belief that if any one is born under the sign of Chitira the fourteenth star in the lunar mansion , his /her house is sure to ruin and perish .This is attributed to the position of Sun and Mars in relation to the star Chitira.

Those born under this sign is sure to lose ones house and has to live in other houses. They however display strong opinions and dislike being advised by others. This results in quarrels.

The ruin of the Travancore Kings is attributed to the birth of a prince under the star, Chitira.
[Vidya P.M]


* Significance of displaying scarecrow

Hanging dummies in front of new buildings both completed and under construction is common in Kerala. It can also be seen in vegetable orchards. It is widely believed that the gaze or evil eyes of on-lookers are directed to it and not to the things around.
Scare crows also generate fear on thieves at night ! [Sangeetha Sukumaran]

*Consumption and the sin of killing

Some people justify the deed of killing animals . The logic is that to eat means to suffer and eating the animal is tantamount to suffering . That is. the sin of killing can be compensated only by eating!
[Roby Mathew]

*Significance of giving new Bridal Dress on the occasion of Marriage

Marriage is an auspicious occasion. Here a man accepts a woman as his life partner. It is the solemn duty of the man to protect the bride throughout his life, giving her everything she needs. By giving the new bridal dress, the groom solemnly and explicitly declares that he takes over all these responsibilities from that moment onwards. That is the importance and implication of the New Bridal Dress.
Dress is the most important thing for a woman in order to protect her chastity. So taking the New Bridal Dress from her life partner is a long cherished wish of every woman. That is also one reason why the married woman preserves the bridal attire till the end of her life.
[Roshan.T.Mathew ]


* On birth and rebirth

Hindus believe in rebirth. But rebirth is completely dependent on ones Karma (ie; deeds one does during ones life time). One is reborn a worm, a cockroach, a fly or other form depending on ones karma. Only one who performs good deeds ever gets to be reborn as a human being. Hence the emphasis on performing noble deeds during ones life on earth.
[Vidya P.M]


* Comparison : Dog and woman

To many, a dog that sleeps at night and a woman who sleeps during day are alike. Dogs we know are supposed to guard the house at night. Likewise a woman is supposed to involve in domestic work during day time . She should not sleep, ignoring her duties. Hence the comparison .
[Abdul Samad K]

*Effect of Mass Prayer

Many believe that mass prayer has to some extent the effect of curing various ailments.
The cure is only temporary. But even the temporary cure depends on the patient's strong belief in the God to whom the prayer is offered. It has also been noted that the singing and use of music elevates the mental state of the patient.!

Pentecost, a section of the Christian community strongly believe that mass prayers in the patient’s home helps cure diseases.

[Rema Devi K.P]


3. Animals and Birds

* Arrival of a cat is favoured in houses

As in olden times, there is still a belief among the housewives that a cat's arrival in to the house is a boon. Often the arrival of a cat coincides with auspicious moments in the house . But, it is the cat that gets the credit .

Cats we know , kill rats, cockroaches and other creatures which are a menace to people who dwell in a house. So the household's love and affection towards the cat increases. Moreover a cat never causes disturbances. Hence the arrival of a cat is always considered a good thing.
[Ayisha M]

* God of Death ‘Kalan’ and howling of dogs

Dogs usually bark; at certain moments they groan too. It’s believed that dogs howl like jackals when they see Kalan – the God of Death. People believe that man cannot see Kalan with his naked eyes but animals can, particularly dogs. Dogs receive signals of movements and sound waves from the atmosphere and it groans.

Hours prior to the Tsunami which hit the Kerala coast many heard the groaning of dogs !
[Abdul Samad K]


*Effect of cat crossing ones path

Many people believe that while going on a venture if a cat crosses ones path it is not auspicious to walk along the path. Proceeding on the venture , ignoring the crossing by the cat will turn to be a futile exercise.
It is often said that if the cat jumps from left to right it is an ill-omen and if it jumps from right to left it is considered to be a good sign. [Sangeetha Sukumaran]


* Effect of crows roosting on trees

It is widely believed that if crows build their nest on any tree , that tree is bound to wither away. One reason could be that their excreta and constant movement break small branches. Even the heat generated by them could result in the tree turning dry.
[Shameera K.M]



*For more articles by the editor view :


http://cpraveenpublications.blogspot.com/