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Sheetala Mata, is a revered deity in Hinduism, particularly in North India, where she is known as the goddess of smallpox, embodying both its spread and cure. She is also considered an incarnation of the goddesses Parvati and Durga, and is worshipped for her dual nature representing disease and healing.
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Sheetala Mata: Sheetala 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.
Lord Shiva: Lord Shiva holds significant prominence in Hinduism as a prominent deity, revered for his role as the vanquisher of malevolence and the catalyst of universal change. Depicted in various forms, he is often portrayed as a tranquil ascetic engaged in deep meditation or as the divine dancer, adorned with a third eye, an entwined serpent around his neck, and a trident grasped firmly in his hand.
Jvara Asura: Jvarasura, is the personification of fever in Hindu tradition. He is the consort, and sometimes the attendant, of the pox-goddess, Sheetala. He was born from the sweat of Lord Shiva.
Goddess Sheetala, also known as Sheetala Mata, is a significant figure in Hinduism, particularly in North India, where she is revered as the goddess of smallpox. She embodies both the spread and cure of this dreaded disease.
In rural India, Sheetala is also considered an incarnation of the goddesses Parvati and Durga, both manifestations of Shakti. In Tamil Nadu, she is worshipped as Mariamman. As one of the most popular rural deities, her origins trace back to the ancient days of Nature Worship.
Goddess Sheetala is depicted wearing a red dress, riding a donkey through North Indian villages, spreading and curing smallpox, chickenpox, and other similar diseases. She represents the dual nature of the natural world: its ability to generate viruses and its healing power. Sheetala is shown with four hands, holding a silver broom, a winnow fan, a small bowl, and a pitcher filled with Gangajal, the holy water from the Ganges. Sometimes, she is depicted with only a broom and a pitcher. Her imagery also symbolizes the importance of cleanliness.
According to the Puranas, Lord Brahma created Sheetala, promising her worship on Earth if she carried lentil seeds, known as ‘Urad dal’ in North Indian folklore. She requested a companion, and Lord Shiva created Jvara Asura, the fever demon, from his sweat. Sheetala, Jvara Asura, and other gods and goddesses resided in Devaloka, transporting lentil seeds by donkey. These seeds mutated into smallpox germs, spreading the disease among the gods and goddesses. Frustrated, the gods asked Sheetala to go to Earth and be worshipped.
Sheetala and Jvara Asura descended to Earth, seeking a place to stay. They arrived at the court of King Birat, a devout follower of Shiva. He agreed to worship Sheetala but insisted she would not be revered more than Shiva. Enraged, Sheetala demanded supremacy. When King Birat refused, she spread various poxes across the land. Eventually, the King relented. The goddess then healed the people of the kingdom.
Today, Goddess Sheetala is worshipped for early recovery from various diseases and for the good health of children.
The most significant festival dedicated to Sheetala is Sheetala Ashtami, celebrated on the Ashtami day following the full moon in the Chaitra month. Temples dedicated to Sheetala Devi can be found in Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.
