Village Goddess

Sheetala (, IAST: ) , also spelled as Shitala and Seetla, is a Hindu goddess venerated primarily in North India. She is regarded to be an incarnation of the goddess Parvati. She is believed to cure poxes, sores, ghouls, pustules, and diseases, and most directly linked with the disease smallpox. Sheetala is worshipped on Tuesday Saptami and Ashtami (the seventh and eighth day of a Hindu month), especially after Holi during the month of Chaitra. The celebration of the goddess Sheetala on the seventh and eighth day of the Hindu month is referred to as the Sheetala Saptami and Sheetala Asthami, respectively .

Legends associated

The deity is principally featured as a women’s goddess, portrayed as a mother who defends children from paediatric ailments, such as exanthemata. She also serves as a fertility goddess, who assists women in finding good husbands and the conception of healthy sons. Her auspicious presence promises the welfare of the family, and is also considered to protect the devotee's sources of livelihood. Sheetala is also summoned to ensure refreshing rainfall and the prevention of famines, droughts, as well as cattle diseases.

The Skanda Purana describes her role:

Name and variants

In Sanskrit, the name 'Sheetala' (शीतला ''śītalā'') literally means 'the one who cools'; as an epithet of the mother goddess or Devi
revered in Hinduism, 'Sheetala' represents the divine blessing of bestowing relief from suffering, like how a cool breeze relieves the weary traveller on a sweltering day. Goddess Sheetala is worshipped under varying names across the Indian subcontinent. Devotees most often refer to Goddess Sheetala using honorific suffixes reserved for respected motherly figures, ''vis-à-vis'' Sheetala-''Ma'' ( Hindi: मां ''māṃ''), Sheetala-''Mata'' (Sanskrit: माता ''mātā''), Sheetala-''Amma'' ( Kannada: ಅಮ್ಮ ''am'ma''), ''etc''. Sheetala is revered by Hindus, Buddhists, as well as by Adivasi communities. She is mentioned in Tantric and Puranic literature, and her later appearance in vernacular texts (such as the Bengali 17th century ''Sheetala-mangal-kabyas'', 'auspicious poetry' written by Manikram Gangopadhyay) has contributed to popularising her worship.

Sheetala Devi's worship is especially popular in the regions of North India, where she is traditionally identified as an aspect of goddess Parvati, the divine consort of Shiva. In addition to being addressed as 'Mother', Sheetala Devi is also revered with honorific titles such as Thakurani, Jagrani (queen of the world), Karunamayi (she who is full of mercy), Mangala (the auspicious one), Bhagavati (the goddess), Dayamayi (she who is compassionate, full of grace, and kindness). In Gurgaon of Haryana, Sheetala is considered to be Kripi (the wife of Drona) and worshipped in the Sheetala Mata Mandir Gurgaon. In South India, the functions of Sheetala is taken by the goddess incarnate Mariamman, who is widely worshipped by the Dravidians.

Sheetala Puja

The worship of Shitala is conducted only by women (now men also take part in the ceremony). She is primarily worshipped in the dry seasons of winter and spring on the day, which is known as Sheetala Satam. There are many ''arti sangrah'' and ''stutis'' for the puja of Seetala. Some of them are Shri Shitla Mata Chalisa, Shitala Maa ki arti, and Shri Shitala Mata ashtak.

According to common belief, many families do not light their stoves on Ashtami/Saptami day, and all devotees cheerfully eat cold food (Cooked the previous night) in the form of prasada. The idea behind this is that as spring fades and summer approaches, cold food should be avoided.

Iconography and symbolism

Sheetala is represented as a young maiden crowned with a winnowing-fan, riding a donkey, holding a short broom (either to spread or dust off germs) and a pot full of pulses (the viruses) or cold water (a vital healing tool). In smaller shrines typically found in rural village settings where the attendees are primarily from the Bahujan and Adivasi communities, Sheetala-Amma may be simply represented by smooth stone slabs with facial features painted on, and additional decorative adornments occasionally donated by devotees. Notably, references to neem leaves are ubiquitous in Sheetala-Ma's liturgy and also appear in her iconography. This association with neem ('' Azadirachta indica'') leaves likely demonstrates that this medicinal herb had indeed been recognised as possessing observable physiological, pharmacodynamic effects. Moreover, neem does find extensive mention in the Sushruta Samhita, where it is listed as an effective antipyretic, as well as a remedy for certain inflammatory skin conditions.

Sheetala is a form of Goddess Katyayani. She provides coolness to the patients of fever. According to the Devi Mahatmyam, when an asura named Jvarasura gave bacterial fever to all the children, goddess Katyayani arrived in her avatar of Sheetala to purify the children's blood by ridding them of the fever-causing bacteria, and vanquishing the evil Jvarasura. In Sanskrit means 'fever', and means 'coolness'. In North Indian iconography, Sheetala is often depicted with Jvarasura as her eternal servant. Other deities often worshipped alongside Sheetala Devi include Ghentu-debata, the god of skin diseases; Raktabati, the goddess of blood infections and the sixty-four epidemics; and Oladevi, another disease goddess (some say of cholera).

She is also depicted enthroned in an eight-handed form holding trident, broom, discus (cakra), a jar of abrasia, or a pot full of water, branches of neem, Scimitar, conch. and ''vard mudra''. She is also flanked by two donkeys. This depiction has established her as a goddess of protection, good fortune, health, and power.

Buddhism

In Buddhist legends, Jvarasura and Shitala are depicted sometimes as companions of Paranasabari, the Buddhist goddess of diseases. Jvarasura and Sheetala are shown escorting her to her right and left side, respectively.

Sheetala temples in India

Some of the notable temples:
* Sheetala Mata Mandir, Mand, Dist. - Mandla , MP
* Sheetala Mata birthplace, Maghra, Bihar Sharif, Nalanda

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