SIKH Perspective

India being a large pluralistic society has countless superstitions related to all  aspects of life cycle

-        Auspicious days/times based on Astrology.

·       One is not to travel on certain days

·       Not Wash hair on certain days

·       Bathe in holy waters if certain sin is commited

-        Good/bad Omens

·       Seeing certain species first thing in the morning

·       Eclipses not good for pregnant women

-        Birth/Death Related

·       Sootak/Patak – Impurity at birth and death: observance of isolation for x number of days

Some Quotes from GGS:

SIKH CODE OF CONDUCT – REHAT MARYADA

This is an official document issued from the Akal Takhat – Immortal Throne and in it all these are mentioned culminating into the following edict.

SIKH is Not to believing in cast or descent, untouchability, magic spells, incantation, omens, auspicious times, days and occasions

The Baha’i Faith

Superstition is very damaging to religion and to society.  The purpose of religion is to lead people to the truth.  Whereas, superstition does the opposite, it leads people away from the truth and is often the means by which malevolent people manipulate the followers of a religion into destructive actions.

One of the teachings of Baha’u’llah is that one of the greatest gifts of God to humanity is that of the intellect.  This gift of the intellect should be used as a means to discover the truths taught by religion. 

Included in this teaching is that of the agreement of science and religion.  God has endowed man with intelligence and reason whereby he is required to determine the verity of questions and propositions.  If religious beliefs and opinions are found contrary to the standards of science, they are mere superstitions and imaginations; for the antithesis of knowledge is ignorance, and the child of ignorance is superstition.  Science, reason and the intellect should not be regarded as being opposed to religion and spirituality. 

Another practice which leads to superstition is that of blind imitation which means blindly following the practices of one’s faith without searching out their meaning.

Another of the teachings of Baha’u’llah is the individual search of the truth.  This is where an individual actively searches out the truth of their faith rather than passively accepting its practices.  This teaching sets us free from imitation and blind adherence to unexamined, dogmatic beliefs. Baha’is believe that no soul should follow ancestral or traditional beliefs without first questioning and examining them. Instead, each individual has the right and the duty to investigate and decide what they believe on their own.

Baha’u’llah continually urges man to free himself from the superstitions and traditions of the past and become an investigator of reality.