Sheetala Saptami
Festival for Removal of Suffering
The festival of Sheetala Saptami is celebrated to honor Devi Sheetala, who is known as Mother Goddess in the Hindu Culture. Sheetala is a sanskrit term which translates to “one who provides cool”.
Devi Sheetala conveys the divine blessing by bestowing relief from suffering, just like cool breeze relieves a weary traveller on a sweltering day.
Goddess Sheetala is worshiped under different names across diverse regions of the Indian Sub-continent. Her worship is especially popular in North India, where she is identified as an aspect of Goddess Parvati.
In addition to being addressed as “Mother”, Sheetala Devi is also revered with honorific titles such as:-
- Thakurani, Jagrani (Queen of the World)
- Karunamati (who is full of mercy)
- Mangala (The Auspicious One)
- Bhagavati (The Goddess)
- Dayamayi (Compassionate, full of grace and kindness)
Why is Sheetala Saptami Celebrated?
Mata Sheetala represents the importance of cleanliness and hygiene in our lives and households. Since most micro-organisms increase activity in the hot and humid weather, this hold special significance. This festival signify that the Cleanliness and Hygiene should be held sacred. As the changing weather, is the ideal time for diseases to spread.
When is Sheetala Saptami Celebrated?
Sheetala Saptami is observed on the Seventh Day of the Krishna Paksha of Chaitra month as per the Panchang. All the fasts and puja rituals are done on this day. Sheetala Ashtami is then celebrated on the following day.
On this day leftover food from the previous day is eaten and is offered to Sheetala Mata. Since the leftover food is used to celebrate this festival, it is also known as Basoda. Those who worship Sheetala Ashtami, prepare their food on the eve of the festival. This stale food is then offered as Prasad to Sheetala Mata the following day.
It is believed that Sheetala Mata is pleased by eating cold food on this day. On this day, people who fast should not light any fire or even stove. The food from the previous day should be consumed and hot food should not be consumed on this day.
Consumption of cold food and not lighting fire is preferred on this day because the most commonly observed disease is fever. It is therefore, advised to keep the body as well as the surroundings cool, as it provides relief from suffering caused by fever.
Depiction of Sheetala Devi
As per the Hindu Scriptures, Devi Sheetala is often depicted as a 4 armed maiden riding a donkey. In her hands, she holds a silver broom, a dustpan, a small bowl and a pot of water. Each of these items has a special purpose and significance.
She uses her broom to sweep up the germs and then collect them using the pan. Then she dumps the collected germs into her bowl. Finally, sprinkles the water (holy water from river Ganges) from her pot to purify the house.
Mata Sheetala is the embodiment of the importance of cleanliness and hygiene in human life and is worshiped in order to keep reminding the people of the same.
With the change of seasons and coming of the hot period, it is essential to emphasize the importance of hygiene for human health. So, the worship of Shitala Mata provides the motivation to keep the surroundings clean and hygienic.
According to Devi Mahatmyam, Devi Sheelata is considered a form of Devi Katyayani (One of the 9 forms of Aadishakti).
Devi Sheetala is sometimes depicted in 8 handed form, holding trident, broom, discus (Chakra), pot full of water, branches of neem, Scimitar, Conch and vard mudra. She is also flanked by 2 donkeys. This depiction has established her as the goddess of protection, good fortune, health and power.
Story behind Sheetala Samptami
As per the religious Hindu Scriptures, especially in Skanda Purana, Sheetala Mata is often referred to as the Goddess of Smallpox. She is widely accepted as the cure of the disease in the Hindu Culture.
Once the Gods conducted a Havan to honor Devi Parvati. Due to the heat from the fire a drop of the Lord Shiva’s sweat dropped on the ground and a demon named Jvarasura, emerged from the ground. Jvarasura is a sanskrit word which translates to “Fever Demon”.
The demon started spreading fever and disease soon after emerging. Sometime after that, from the same fire, Devi Sheetala emerged in order to rid the world from the disease and suffering the demon Jvarasura caused.
Devi Sheetala started to cleanse and purify the world from the diseases that were spread by the Fever Demon, thus defeating him. Later, Jvarasura accepted his defeat at the hands of Devi Sheetala and became her servant. This victory granted Devi the title of the “Mata” or “The Mother Goddess” as she relieved all the human of the world from suffering just as a mother relieved her children.
This story also emphasize the importance of cleanliness and hygiene, as the demon was not able to spread disease where surroundings were clean.
Sheetala Saptami or Basoda Pooja Vidhi
- Light a lamp made with wheat dough. You may either use mustard oil or ghee to light the lamp.
- Seek the blessings of Goddess Sheetala while offering these items in this order – Haldi, Kumkum, Akshat, Kalava, Chunri, Kajal, Mehandi, Flowers, Banana, Coconut etc.
- Then offer some water from the Kalash and the Bhog.
- Pray to the Goddess to guard you and your family against heat-borne diseases like chickenpox, measles etc.
- Conclude the puja by performing the Aarti.
- Finally, sprinkle some water from the kalash on yourself and other family members and also use it to cleanse your home.