Superstition: a Rational Discourse

Superstition: A Rational Discourse Yadnyeshwar Nigale (Translated by Ms Suman Oak) Lokbhumi Prakashan Panaji (Goa) Credits Superstition: A Rational Discourse Author Yadnyeshwar Nigale (Translated by Ms Suman Oak) © Yadnyeshwar Nigale Articles may be reproduced freely acknowledging the source and a copy forwarded to Publisher. First Edition: June 2012 Layout & Production Milind Joshi, Anupam Creations, 2/14, Marwa, Anupam Park Kothrud, Pune 411029 Published & Printed by Ramesh Kolwalkar Lokbhumi Prakashan, Roshan Manzil, Near Cine National, Panaji (Goa) 403001 (Contact: 9763817239/(0832) 2251358) Cover Design Sham Bhalekar, Pune Rs : 150/- 2 Superstition: A Rational Discourse This book is respectfully dedicated to the memory of Comrade Narayan Desai (1920- 2007) a renowned thinker, philosopher & guide and wrote profusely and also was an activist in the progressive and rationalist movements Superstition: A Rational Discourse 3 The Author's Perception The Indian Society as a whole is beset with innumerable slovenly and unscientific concepts like-fatalism, fate or luck, the cycle of birth and death, Karmasiddhanta (present suffering or good fortune is the fruit of deeds in the previous births), astrology, destiny, miracles, concept of being auspicious or inauspicious, vows, observances and what not. To match with this innumerable orthodox senseless traditions and rituals are blindly followed by most of the Indians. In fact, the whole edifice of the Indian society and its culture is founded on these constructs. The psyche of the people does not allow them to examine any custom or tradition or happening and verify its utility, validity and legitimacy. For them, the age old customs, rituals and traditions, started by their wise forefathers are sacrosanct and beyond any criticism, leave alone any change. It's not that only the poor, ignorant people alone are plagued by this psyche; even the highly educated, science graduates fall prey to this slavish mentality.As a result, for all the advances that science is making, science will still be perceived only as a means of getting good marks to secure a job or enter some profession and earn a comfortable livelihood, as long as, the study of science does not inculcate scientific outlook and scientific method of thinking. Science affirms that no miracle is possible in this world. Whatever happens in this world has some scientific cause. Things don't happen because of somebody's blessings, by the grace of some deity, miraculously or of their own accord without any cause. But people at large are so enamoured of miracles that for them being able to perform miracles is a god given gift, His blessings. Any petty Baba or Maharaj who displays an equally petty miracle can create admiration with awe for him in people's mind. The Baba then can easily trap these people in his pretenses to exploit and ruin them; all this despite the avowal of science that no miracle is possible. Abumper crop of superstitions grows in our society everywhere in all social strata.Apsyche beset with tradition, the haughty pride of our age old traditions and customs, total lack of logical and critical approach and the mindset that resists any progressive and necessary change, although intellectually approved, hamper the process of eradication of superstitions in the society. All most all the articles in this book, “Superstition: A Rational Discourse”, expose using scientific criteria, some miracle mongering or other that takes place every now and then. Even the so called saintly, renowned Babas who exploit gullible people, behind the façade of 4 Superstition: A Rational Discourse charitable social work are not let out. Although the articles were written at different time as and when the episodes took place, there is a common thread-rationalism- running through all of them. This book is my second book in the same strain as the first one namely, “Kisse Andhashraddheche” (meaning stories of superstition). Most of the articles in this book have already been published in the local magazines. Advocate Amrit Kasar, a progressive intellectual has been a great guide to me in this effort. Similarly my friend and the editor of “Lok Bhumi” shouldered the responsibility of publishing it. I owe them a lot but prefer to stay indebted to them. I am obliged by Advocate Panduranga Nagavekar for writing a preface to the present book. I copiously thank him. - Yadnyeshwar Nigale Acknowledgements Eradication of Superstition is an issue of vital importance for reforming and reconstructing our social structure. It is rationally discussed in “Andhashraddha: Ek Vivekanishtha Vivechan”, the original book in Marathi. Many of my friends felt that the thought of this book should not cater only to the Marathi speaking public but should be made available to a much larger readership. My friend Ramesh Kolwalkar readily accepted the suggestion and decided to publish an English version of it. Ms. Suman Oak has agreed to translate. Prabhakar Nanawaty, an activist and rationalist, has taken the responsibility of editing it and Babu Gogineni, International Director, IHEU, has written the preface to the English version. I am filled with joy that the efforts of all these friends who have succeeded in bringing out this English version. I am heavily indebted to them all. I am also indeted to Deepak Dalvi, Pune, Vaman Bhate, Panaji, Goa and Prakash Muchandi, Goa, for their assistance in bringing out this book. I am thankful to Sham Bhalekar for book cover and Milind Joshi for the layout and production of books. The dates on which these articles were earlier published in Marathi dailies or magazines (Gomantak, Navaprabha, Taruna Bharat, etc.) are given below each article to enable the reader to put the article in proper chronological perspective. I thank the editors of these dailies and magazines. Yadnyeshwar Nigale Superstition: A Rational Discourse 5 Preface (Translation of Marathi Edition) The social life of Goa, for the last several years, is being polluted by some people who egg on superstitious behavior. Yadnyeshwar Nigale could never acquiesce with this tendency and severely criticized it through his public lectures and meetings. Through his writings he exposed many a religious imposters, so thoroughly that they had to take to their heels. Of course, he himself had to face severe criticism from the faithful, especially the Hindus who accused him of not daring to criticize religions other than the Hindu religion. He received many threats from the orthodox communities. But he did not relent. He continues his crusade of eradicating superstition, unabated. This book, 'Superstition:A Rational Discourse' is the sum total of all his endaevours, so far and is the second book of its kind; the first being 'Kisse Andhashraddheche' (meaning stories of superstition). Mr. Nigale has put across his thoughts, bluntly and frankly enough, through 40 articles and clarified his stand against superstition. The Gomantak (Goa) society ought to be cleansed of the pestilence of superstition. To achieve this task, Mr. Nigale is uniting people against superstition. This book will prove instrumental in spreading his revolutionary thoughts and awakening the people from their religious stupor. History of all religions tells us that no religion has escaped from superstition. Superstition rises out of the weak mind of the people and nurtured further by religion. Most of the Hindu mythological stories are based on superstition. Dutta Guru is one such deity invented about just 450 years ago, in Maharashtra. There is a reason for this fantastic invention. In that period of history, saint Nivrittinath and many other saints like him, were trying to awaken people and break the chains of superstition and casteism (among the Marathi people) through their 'Abhang Vani' (hymns). They founded 'Bhagavat Dharma' (a theist but 6 Superstition: A Rational Discourse equalizing sect) and crisscrossed the country right up to the Punjab to spread it. The Marathi mind was the most affected by it and Marathi people almost forgot the caste-based distinction which naturally irritated the orthodox religionists. They wanted people to believe in the birth-based caste and colour discrimination and inferiority of the fair sex and to treat women and other inferior castes accordingly. Inventing Datta Maharaj who would take care of these needs of the orthodox became a necessity. (In Brahma Puran it is said that Datta Maharaj restored the lost glory of the Vedas,the rituals and Yadnyas. He reorganized and strengthened the 'Chaturvarnya System'). Another such deity namely, Satyanarayan, was invented only 250 years back after the demise of the Peshava rule. The story and the rituals stipulated in it are written purely with the intension of securing the livelihood of the Brahmin community by spreading superstition. Many other observances- Vrata Vaikalya of comparatively modern times are written for appeasing some newly invented deities, Satyamba, Varadalaxmi and Santoshi Mata. The oldest example of this kind is the Manusmriti, which is supposed to have been composed in the year 230 BC, in Maharashtra, during the Satavahan Empire. This 2237 years old tome was written by Hindu luminaries to subdue some of their own brethrens and keep them sunk in the swamp of superstition. All these Puranas and mythical stories based on superstition have been legitimized by the Hindu customs and Traditions. They have in a way obliged people to remain superstitious. After all we, human beings, are superstitious in one way or other. My belief may look to be a superstition to you and vice versa. We do harbour some superstition or other hidden in our unconscious mind which shows up in our behaviour. A cricketer who hits a century in one match may score a duck in the next, if he does not have the same outfit, shoes and bat that he used in the first match. Take any profession. It ought to be ridden with superstition.

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