| Shitala Devi | |
|---|---|
| Consort | Jvarasura |
| Mount | Donkey |
Shitala (Sheetala), also called Sitala (शीतला śītalā), is a Hindu goddess widely worshipped in North India, West Bengal, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan as the pox-goddess.
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Shitala is worshipped under different names all through the subcontinent. Śītalā is more often called mā or āmmā (‘mother’) and is worshipped by Hindus, Buddhists and tribal communities. The goddess is mentioned in early Tantric and Purāṇic literature and her later appearance in vernacular texts (such as the Bengali 17th century Śītalā-maṅgal-kāvyas, ‘auspicious poetry’) has contributed to strengthen her role in village Hinduism. Śītalā is worshipped as a protector.
Shitala is primarily popular among the people of North India and the Indian diaspora. In some traditions she is identified with an aspect of Parvati, the consort of Shiva. Ferrari (2009: 146-147) reports that Shitala is addressed with the following titles:
The role of Shitala in South India is taken by the goddess Mariamman, whom is worshipped by the Dravidian-speaking people in the Subcontinent and abroad (i.e. in the West but particularly in Malaysia, Indonesia, Bali)
The worship of Shitala is conducted by both Brahmins and low caste pujaris. She is primarily worshipped in the dry seasons of winter and spring. There are many arti sangrah and stuties for the puja of maa shitla.some of them are shri shitla mata chalisa,shri shitla mata ji ki arti,shri shitla mata ashtak etc.
Shitala is accompanied by Jvarāsura, the fever demon, Olāi Caṇḍi/Olāi Bibi, the goddess of cholera, the Cauṣaṭṭī Rogas, the sixty-four epidemics, Gheṇṭukarṇa, the god of skin diseases, and Raktāvatī, the goddess of blood infections. Śītalā is represented as a young maiden crowned with a winnowing-fan, riding an ass, holding a short broom (either to spread or dust off germs) and a pot full of pulses (the viruses) or cold water (a healing tool). Among low-caste Hindus and tribal communities, she is aniconically represented with slab-stones or carved heads. Sometimes, she is said to be carrying a bunch of neem (Azadirachta indica) leaves, an ancient Ayurvedic medicinal herb that is very much an effective remedy to most skin diseases even today.
Shitala along with her consort Jvarasura is also sometimes depicted with a shady woman called Raktavati (Possesor of Blood). She is often worshiped with Oladevi, another disease goddess.[1]
In Buddhist culture, Jvarasura and Shitala are depicted sometimes as consort of Paranasabari, the Budhhist Goddess of diseases. Jvarasura and Shitala are shown escorting her to her right and left side, respectively. In some images these deities are shown as flying away to escape from wrath of Vajrayogini, the Buddhist Goddess and destroyer of diseases.[2]
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