We will start the subject with a story….

Of the many tragic tales in the history of science, the ordeal of Johannes Kepler and his mother, Catherine, stands as a stark testament to the destructive power of superstition. Kepler, the brilliant German astronomer and mathematician born in 1571, used his intellect to unravel the laws of planetary motion. Yet, that same intellect, expressed through fiction, inadvertently unleashed the very irrational fears he sought to transcend.

His lunar fantasy, the first Sci Fi Book Somnium written in German (The Dream , in English) was a pioneering work of science fiction, but its narrative contained a fatal flaw in the superstitious context of 17th-century Germany. In the story, he imagined a colony on Moon where children are staying described a woman who practiced “black magic” on children, a character he privately modeled on his own mother’s strong-willed nature. By circulating a preliminary manuscript, Kepler unknowingly provided a narrative template for his community’s deepest anxieties.

When local children fell ill or died, the populace did not see a scientific mind exploring imaginative realms. They saw a literal confession. The fictional character was instantly and irrevocably conflated with the real Catherine Kepler. The result was a witch-hunt in the most literal sense. Forty-nine charges were filed against her; she was arrested, imprisoned, and subjected to the terror of the judicial process. Even Kepler’s own brother believed the accusations, proving that superstition can sever the closest familial bonds.

For five years, Kepler, the architect of cosmic order, fought the earthly chaos of ignorance. He exhausted his resources and energy trying to convince the court that his work was fiction, not a documentary. While he eventually secured her release, the trauma of her imprisonment claimed Catherine’s life soon after.

This heartbreaking episode proves that superstition is not merely a passive belief but an active, interpretive lens that distorts reality. It demonstrates a fundamental failure to separate artistic imagination from fact, leading a community to persecute an elderly woman based on the plot of a novel. The Kepler case remains a powerful historical lesson on how fear, when weaponized by superstition, can blind people to reason, destroy lives, and even turn a son’s creative tribute into his mother’s death warrant.

The Curious World of Superstitions: From the West to India

Superstitions are a fascinating part of human culture, shaping how people think, act, and even make daily decisions. Every society has its own set of beliefs that defy logic yet endure across generations.

In Western countries like the United States and England, superstitions appear in subtle yet familiar ways. Many buildings skip the 13th floor, and dinner hosts often hesitate to seat 13 guests at a table. When the 13th day of a month falls on a Friday, it’s considered especially unlucky — a day many prefer to stay cautious. Breaking a mirror, too, is thought to bring seven years of bad luck.

Phrases and gestures to ward off misfortune are common as well. Saying “touch wood” (or “knock on wood” in American English) is believed to protect one from bad luck. Crossing one’s fingers for good fortune is another popular habit that has spread around the world.

Western folklore is filled with other curious beliefs — avoiding walking under ladders, steering clear of black cats, or believing that finding a four-leaf clover brings unexpected luck.

In India, superstitions go even deeper, intertwined with tradition, religion, and everyday life. From avoiding certain actions during eclipses to interpreting sneezes or bird calls as omens, these beliefs often shape social behavior. People sometimes follow them so strongly that disagreements — even conflicts — can arise over something as small as a “bad sign.”

While modern science often dismisses such ideas, superstitions remain woven into the cultural fabric of societies worldwide. They reflect our shared desire to find meaning in chance and control over uncertainty — and, in their own way, they connect generations through stories, rituals, and a touch of mystery.

Misconceptions about Solar and Lunar Eclipses in Indian Society

Despite great progress in science and education, many in India still hold firm beliefs about the effects of Surya Grahan (solar eclipse) and Chandra Grahan (lunar eclipse). It is widely believed that pregnant women should stay indoors, avoid cooking, and that food should not be eaten during an eclipse. These customs, though rooted in tradition, stand apart from scientific understanding.

The universe was formed about 13.8 billion years ago, the Earth 4.54 billion years ago, and life appeared around 3.5 billion years ago. Modern humans evolved about 300,000 years ago, but it is only in the last few thousand years that civilization began thinking philosophically and scientifically. The Rig Veda, composed over 3,000 years ago, already reflected a deep curiosity about nature and the cosmos. Yet, the modern scientific revolution is barely 500 years old—a brief moment in human history.

For ancient people, eclipses were mysterious and frightening. In India, the story of Rahu swallowing the Sun or Moon explained what could not yet be understood. In China, people believed a dragon devoured the Moon. These myths gave emotional comfort and order to an unpredictable world.

However, the Indian astronomer Aryabhaṭa, as early as the 5th century CE, correctly explained that eclipses occur due to the shadow of the Earth and Moon. Though the scientific explanation existed, it remained confined to scholars, while the general population continued to follow inherited customs.

In olden times, when medical science was limited and childbirth risky, protective rules were created for women—especially during rare celestial events. Over centuries, these precautions hardened into superstition.

Today, science confirms that eclipses are natural, harmless celestial alignments. Yet, old fears persist, showing how tradition can linger long after facts are known.

Respecting culture is vital, but developing a scientific temperament—to question, learn, and replace fear with knowledge—is equally important. True enlightenment lies not in rejecting tradition, but in understanding nature through reason.

Ref: Vikash Divyakirti, Educator ( UPSC) “Bharat mein Andhvishvaas itna jyada kyon hai? Sachchayi kya hai. 👆