Goddess Shitala Mata
Shitala Devi is worshiped in many parts of India and also in Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Sheis an incarnation of Goddess Durga, and she cures poxes, and all other dreaded diseases.
Once a demon named Jwarasur, started spreading incurable diseases to all the people in the earth, especially among the children. Durga assumed the form of Ma Sheetala Devi,and with her great powers, she cured all the people’s diseases.
Lord Bhairav and Durga Mata fought with Jwarasur and killed him with their powerful weapons. They have destroyed the demon, in order to prevent the sufferings of the people, and to make them to live a healthy and peaceful life. Sheetala Devi is very fair, and looks young in appearance and she is considered as an incarnation of Mata Durga.
She is a goddess of curing the diseases and she can give them too, if we neglect her and if we disrespect her by making derogatory remarks on her. She is the cause as well as the cure. Sheetala is the reliever of various diseases and the one who protects from the sufferings of the people. Sheetala is worshiped under different names in various parts of India. Shitala Ma is popularly worshipped by North Indian people.
In Haryana, Kripi (Mother of Ashwathama) is worshiped as Sheetla Devi in Sheetala Mata Mandir Gurgaon.
The puja of Sheetala is performed by both Brahmins and non-Brahmins. She is mainly worshiped in winter and also worshipped on the day of Sheetala Asthami.
Sheetala is represented as a young and charming goddess riding a donkey, holding a short broom (to clear the harmful germs which cause various diseases to the people) and a pot containing pure water (to heal the people suffering from various diseases). She is also said to be carrying a bunch of Neem leaves, a medicinal herb used to cure various diseases of the people.
She not only cures the diseases of the people, but also gives all sorts of prosperity in our life. She is the divine mother who protects the entire universe through her magnificent power.
Let us praise her by singing songs on her, in order to attain her entire grace.
“Jai, Jai, Shitala Ma, Amba Jai, Jai Shitala Ma, you are the most favourite goddess for us, and you are the most beautiful goddess”.
“You are the one, who present everywhere and anywhere in the earth. By chanting your glories, even the blind would be able to see the world, the dumb would be able to talk and the deaf would be able to hear”.
“Jai, Jai, Shitala Ma, you are called by various names like Amba, Ambigai, Easwari, Sri Devi, Jaganmatha, and Janani, you are the divine mother for you, since you are removing the tears from our eyes, during the times of our difficulties”.
“You are shining brightly like the millions and millions of suns, your ornaments look very precious, you wear the beautiful fragrant flowers on your head, you hold the medicines on your hands, in order to remove our sickness”.
“Jai, Jai, Shitala Ma, you are the chief of the entire universe. Even the divine devas, sages and saints are obediently bowing their hands by praising your glories. You are the affectionate mother for us, since you have been taking care of us since from the time of our birth”.
“You are the curing the diseases of your devotees within a fraction of seconds. And those people, who laugh at you, without knowing about your sanctity, importance and purity, would be severely punished by you”.
“Jai, Jai, Shitala Ma, even the sun, moon and the stars might fall from the skies, but you would never leave alone your devotees, and you would always protect them like their own mother”.
“You are the holy Ma Draupati, you are the holy Ma Kannagi, and you are the holy Ma Vasuki, and you are the most favourite goddess for us. We want to watch your divine beauty again and again, and we don’t want to see anything else, other than you”.
“OM MA SHITALA DEVIYE NAMAHA”
WRITTEN BY
R.HARISHANKAR