What are 5 example of superstitious belief about eclipse?

Answer 1

According to Indian mythology, when amrita(a heavenly drink that would give immortality to the drinker) was churned out of the ocean, both the gods and the demons claimed their rights on it. Lord Vishnu tricked the demons and gave amrita to the the gods, but two demons named Rahu and Ketu disguised themselves and joined the feast. But the gods Chandra(moon) and Surya(Sun) recognized them and on their alarm, Vishnu beheaded them. Since the amrita had reached their throats, their heads remained immortal. The two demons vowed eternal vengeance against Sun and Moon and therefore devour them - causing eclipses. But since their throats are severed, sun and moon come out of their throats after a little while.

There is no basis in truth for different superstitions, it is ignorance that causes fear. Since eclipses don't happen everyday, people become afraid when they see what they think is an aberration in the laws of Nature. For instance, in the book 'King Solomon's Mines' - the white Europeans are shown to intimidate the African tribe by the help of their prior knowledge of a lunar eclipse, claiming to be deities who can make the moon disappear, but an old woman of that tribe who had lived long enough to witness other eclipses is not taken in.

However, the fear of eclipses, and the prohibition to see it thereof can be related tot he fact that viewing the solar eclipse through naked eyes is indeed harmful.

All superstitions originate when human beings do not have the knowledge to explain away natural phenomena.

Incidentally, the diamond ring formation in the Varanasi sky was breathtakingly beautiful.