The Evil Eye Superstition

Have you ever felt uncomfortable while observing a person staring at you with an envious look when you shared some good news? Chances are that you unknowingly experienced the evil eye superstition. The evil eye belief floats across civilizations, all of which invented methods to ward off evil eye.

Origin of the Evil Eye Belief

Evil eye beliefs seem to have been the result of the human instinct of feeling uncomfortable when someone stares. Such a stare is believed to have stemmed from envy or dislike. Thus, when somebody, on hearing good news, gives the ill wishing look, it is supposed to inflict injury, bring bad luck or even cause death.
While it is believed that some people have the magical power to bestow a curse by the wicked gaze of their eyes, the word ‘evil’ in “the evil eye superstition” is misleading in the sense that the envious might have cast the evil eye unintentionally.

How to Ward Off Evil Eye

Following are the measures taken by people from various religions to ward off evil eye:

• Judaism: Evil eye Jewish beliefs hold that a man casting evil eye will feel distressed on seeing others prosper and rejoice when they suffer. Such a person is dangerous to the moral purity of the Jewish community. Wearing red strings to ward off evil eye is suggested. This also acts as a reminder of lessons imparted by the matriarch, Rachel, which encourage to act on the path of good.
• Hinduism: Aarti, a traditional ritual, involves moving the plate with the holy flame in circular motion around the person who needs to be protected from the evil eye. For vehicles and shops, lemons and chillies are hung to ward off evil eye.
• Islam: Muslims, while appreciating beauty, precede their compliment by ‘masha-allah’, which means that ‘God willed it’ and therefore, it is indestructible.
• Christianity: The Old Testament mentions the evil eye belief. European Christians make the cross sign with their hand, pointing the index finger and the small finger towards the supposed victim of the evil eye.