There are two ways in which a lizard is supposed to exercise a good or an evil influence, and these are its cry and its falling upon anyone. With reference to the cry of a lizard it is said that, if on entering a town, anyone hears a lizard's cry coming from the left wand it denotes prosperity ; but if it should be heard from the right it bespeaks delay in the accomplishment of the designs of him who hears it. If the cry is heard from the front, it is a good omen ; but it is bad to hear it from behind. If a number of lizards cry out together, or if one should cry many times it is a good sign. If when any one is considering about any business a lizard's cry is heard from the right or from above, it bespeaks well for the hearer's designs ; but it would denote disaster if it were heard from the left side.
Every dweller in India knows how universal the ordinary lizard is ; it is everywhere both indoors and out. It is a very harmless thing and many of its ways are rather entertaining than otherwise ; especially its dexterity in pouncing upon the insects which form its food. Many lizards are very pretty, and the effect is very pleasing 'when they are seen darting about in the sunlight, or along the white walls by lamplight. Some of them, it is true, are not so engaging in appearance ; but others have most beautiful colours and markings, and their feeble little " tweet " " tweet " is by no means unpleasant to the ear, though not very musical. In its movements here, there and everywhere, up the walls, along the beams and in and out among the rafters, seeking what it may devour, the silly thing must very often go very carelessly, or else get giddy from running along horizontal beams with its natural position reversed as to its legs and back. It is no unusual thing for it to fall on the floor, and to be stunned. It is, however, soon up again and off like a dart, as if nothing had happened. The Hindu has very superstitious notions about the fall of a lizard, that is, if it should happen to fall on his person ; and he will try all he can to prevent such a thing happening. Although under certain conditions, such a fall may be a token of good, the chances to the contrary are so great as to make it worth while to take every precaution against such a contingency.
In a book on omens there is a list of no less than sixty-five places on the person which may forebode good or evil, if touched by a lizard in its fall. If it falls upon the centre of one's head, it forebodes a quarrel or disease ; if on the temples, evil to one's brother ; if on the front of the head, evil to oneself ; if on the head covering, evil to males, death to females; if on the tips of one's hair, death ; if on the right cheek, good for males, evil for females ; if on the left cheek, good for females, evil for males and so on through the whole body right down to the toes, and even to the nails on the toes. For instance, if a lizard falls on the toes of the right foot, it denotes wealth ; but if on the nails of the same foot, a quarrel; if on the edge of the nails of the same foot, annoyance or suffering is betokened. If in the fall it touches either the toes, or the nails, or the edge of the nails of the left foot, it is an omen of wealth and good fortune.
The chapter from which these remarks are taken concludes as follows " Upon whatever part of the body a lizard may fall, it is the best thing to at once bathe and, having lit a lamp fed with oil, pray to a favourite god for the prevention of any evil that might otherwise happen." To this it may be objected that the omen might be a good one, hence why this deprecatory action. The reply to this would probably be that, owing to the possible uncertainty as to the exact spot upon which the reptile alighted, it would be safer to assume that the omen is a bad one, and so at once provide for the possible contingency.
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Answered by
GANGA .
at
6:12 PM on January 02, 2009
