Why don't we cut nails after sunset - Here's what tradition says

We have often heard from the elderly people at our home to not cut our nails after the sun sets, but have you ever thought why? Well, as Indians, there is a scientific backing to everything that we do, and just like that, there is also a reason why we are scolded for trimming our nails after sunset. To some, it might sound like a superstition, and they may also end up doing it, just to prove there is no such thing as this, but this age-old advice is deeply rooted in ancient science, safety, and spirituality. Scroll down to explore the unexplored!

Evening is considered to be a sacred time, especially if you want to impress Goddess Lakshmi, the deity of wealth and fortune, and she finds cutting nails at night disgraceful. It is said that if you cut your nails after the sun has set, it is bound to keep her out of your home. and nobody wants that. Moreover, ancient texts associate Rahu and Ketu, shadow planets, with stronger influences after sunset. It was believed that cutting nails or your hair during this time could attract negative energies or bad luck, especially if the planetary alignment is vulnerable at that time.

Astrology says, moon is quite a powerful symbol, often associated with emotions, our body's natural cycles and our inner intuition. Now, if you are one to cut your nails in the evening, when the moon's energy and influence are particularly strong, it is believed to disrupt your personal energy fields. This can lead to imbalances that affect one’s emotional well-being and intuitive clarity.

Disruption of the body's bio-rhythm (dinacharya), is what Ayurveda says. After sunset, the body enters a state of rest, repair, and rejuvenation. if you trim your nails during that phase, it is seen as a disruption to the body's natural healing rhythm. Our finger nails have a connection to our nervous system, cutting nails without full awareness or under poor lighting after sunset could disturb these points and affect the nadi (energy channel) flow.

In the earlier times, there was no electricity or a light source, hence it was really difficult for people to realise the exact length of their nails in the dark. This made it difficult to cut, collect, and dispose of them. In addition to this, nails, scattered all around the house, don't look very appealing and are very unhygienic. So, you must avoid cutting nails at night.

While there are several reasons associated with one claim, but in Hinduism, cutting nails is associated with evil energies and is said to attract bad luck. According to astrology, you should cut your nails in a bright light, during the day.