We generally believe that Shitala Mata, an incarnation of Parvati rids us of pustule creating poxes, contagious diseases and evil spirits. But some say Shitala Mata protects her devotees’ sources of livelihood, helps women find good husbands and conceive healthy children too. Yet others summon Shitala Mata to ensure bountiful rains and prevent drought. In South India, Shitala Mata is known as Mariamman. Today, when we are afflicted by chicken pox or measles, we offer Shitala Mata cooling and tangy foods like curd, chillies, tamarind, lemon and neem leaves.
A Ritual Called Randhan Chath
Interestingly different devotees worship Shitala Mata on Saptami or Ashtami of different months for various reasons. Some people do not light their stoves on the Saptami of Shravan – others do so in Phalgun. They eat cold/stale food, which is cooked the previous day as prasad.
The essence behind this ritual is surprisingly simple. When we eat cold/stale food for one day when the weather is changing between two seasons, we improve the immunity of our bodies. Some people even avoid a hot water bath on this day.
Shitala Mata: Swaroop
Shitala Mata is a beautiful maiden. But she disguises herself as a haggard witch like Brahmin widow. Her companions are Jvarasura, Ghentukarna and Raktavati. They cause fever, itches, skin diseases and blood oozing fevers.
We usually depict Shitala Mata as a young woman with four hands. Her mount is a donkey. She holds a broom and a pot full of pulses (the viruses) in her left hands. And a pot of cool water, a vital healing tool and a winnow in her right hands. In some images, Shitala Mata holds a broom and pot in her hands and wears a winnow as her crown.
Shitala Mata: Swaroop Symbolism
Let us start with the broom which conveys a very significant message. Unless we make a conscious effort to dispel the negative vibrations around us and cleanse our aura, we will always be a victim of our illusions. That is why we use exotic brooms like a Morchadi (fan made out of peacock feathers) and a Chamar (a yak tail fly whisk) to dispel the negativity and dust the aura of our deities.
Her mount the donkey symbolises our stubborn and rigid nature. We take several blessings for granted. And often we refuse to accept the reality – that life is always going to be a merry medley of good and bad.
At such times we end up incurring the wrath of deities like Shitala Mata. She will empty her pot of pulses which contains disease-causing viruses and inflict us with deadly diseases.
But Shitala Mata’s winnow and the pot of cool water symbolise her compassionate nature. Like a winnow, when we make a conscious effort to separate our illusions from reality, she heals us with the pot of cool water. Immediately.
Shitala Mata Folk Tale 1
Shitala Mata, a beautiful maiden is born from the cooled ashes of a sacrificial fire. So, Brahma names her Shitala, the Cool One. Shiva gives her Jvarasura as her companion. After which she sets off to the kingdom of Indra to collect her share of the Havis.
Shitala enters the royal court disguised as an ancient crone. Indra and the other devas do not recognize her true nature and treat her arrogantly. In a fit of great rage born out of humiliation, Shitala orders Jvarasura to possess their bodies. Smallpox and fever erupt on their bodies.
Shiva reveals Shitala’s true identity to the devas. And tells them that Shitala’s wrath had inflicted them with such diseases. The devas realize their folly, offer her a share of the Havis and worship her with devotion. Shitala displays her compassionate nature and instantly relieves them of the painful pustules.
Folk tale 2
Shitala appears in king Virata’s dream in a terrifying form. She says, “I can give you all that life has to offer and final release as well if you worship me. But if you do not worship me, I will destroy your kingdom completely.” But king Virata is an ardent devotee of Shiva. So, he refuses to worship her.
An infuriated Shitala assembles a vast army of diseases and creates a separate troop of poxes alone. In absolute fury, she says, “O Jvarasura, Order the poxes to disguise themselves as a variety of eye-catching pulses. And place the exotic-looking pulses on the backs of bullocks. Accompany me as I lead the army on my donkey to Virata’s kingdom.”
Jvarasura rubs his hands in glee when he hears Shitala’s words and willingly obeys her orders.
Folk Tale 3
On their way to Virata’s kingdom, a greedy toll collector forcibly takes the pulses from Shitala’s army as taxes. The toll collector’s wife cooks the pox pulses and feeds her children. The children in turn share it with the other village boys. And in no time, all the village boys die a terrible death due to smallpox. The toll collector and his wife prepare to bury themselves with their children’s bodies on the cremation ground.
That is when Shitala reveals her true form and says, “O Manava, you villagers assume that your children will always remain healthy. And you will live happily till the end of your lives. Now that you have sobered up to the harshness of reality, make a conscious effort to connect to the supreme force that pervades the cosmos. I will revive your children. Most certainly. But only after your arrogant king Virata too understands this.”
Folk Tale 4
Shitala turns all the boys into stone and marches to Virata’s kingdom with her army. Jvarasura, Raktavati and Ghentukarna sell the pox pulses to the people of the Virata’s kingdom. And in no time Virata’s kingdom is filled with the eerie silence of death.
Virata remembers his dream and Shitala’s words. And with tears in his eyes, he sings hymns in praise of Shitala. Shitala appears before him in her compassionate form. Virata looks at her with reverence and says, “O Shitala Mata, forgive my arrogance. I assumed that with my wealth I could make myself and the people of my kingdom happy forever. Thanks to your curse, I realize how grossly mistaken I was.” Shitala Mata forgives Virata, revives the dead and disappears with her companions. From then on, Virata and his subjects worship Shitala Mata devoutly
Even today Shitala Mata’s devotees enact or read Shitala Mata’s tales. They remain awake throughout the night. And reaffirm to themselves that their Gram Devi Shitala Mata is an aspect of Mother Nature. Yes, like a mother she cares for her children. But does not hesitate to unleash her fury and punish her children when they take her for granted.
Something to reflect on…
In all probability, our ancestors created an entity like Shitala Mata to cope with fatal outbreaks of contagious diseases like smallpox. Except for some home remedies, they did not know how to deal with such diseases.
It is during such critical moments that fear takes complete charge of our minds. We realize that we have to – have to – live through our karma. So, we connect with a higher force to cope with our fears. For we all know one thing. Very well. Where there is faith – there is no fear. That is when we stop praying for things we don’t have. And learn to appreciate what we have. Maybe that’s what Shitala Mata wants us to remember. Always.
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