DashaDharma Story of Shitala Ma

 

Story of Shitala Mata

  

 We have seen earlier the story of Sukeshi who went to the ashram of the sages in the Magadh forest and learnt many dharmic concepts. (https://bharatiyastories.blogspot.com/2024/02/pious-asuras-and-worried-gods). Amongst the many things he learnt from the sages, he also got the knowledge of the ten basic principles of Dharma that is common to all people irrespective of their occupation (varnas). We had already covered few of these Dharmas through relevant stories. Please see the links below.

Dasha Dharma

1.         Dhṛti – Patience (https://bharatiyastories.blogspot.com/2024/02/dashdharma-patience-shabari.html; https://bharatiyastories.blogspot.com/2024/02/dash-dharma-patience.html)

2.         Kṣhamā – Forgiveness (https://bharatiyastories.blogspot.com/2024/03/dashadharma-story-of-kaakasura-from.htmll)

3.         Damo - Calmness

4.         Asteyaṃ - Not coveting/ stealing

5.         Saucam - Cleanliness

6.         Indriya nigraha – Control of senses

7.         Dhīr – Righteous Action (https://bharatiyastories.blogspot.com/2024/03/dashadharama-kacha-and-devayani.html)

8.         Vidya – Pursuit of knowledge

9.         Satyam – Truthfulness (https://bharatiyastories.blogspot.com/2024/03/harishchandra-test-and-triumph.html.)

10.       Akrodho – Control of anger

daśakaṃ dharmalakṣaṇam।।

Story on Saucam – Cleanliness

Story of Shitala Mata

Keeping one’s body clean is considered a pre-requisite for any type of prayer and puja in the Hindu tradition. The divine saint of Kanchi, His Holiness Chandrashekara Saraswati Swami (Mahaperiyava) has talked about this in detail in his book Voice of God (Deivaithin Kural). The Seer talks about the time at which we should have a bath, the direction that we should face, the mantras that we should chant etc. Further, He has also talked extensively about the types of food and its impact on the body and mind.

We are using a small story of Shitala Mata to illustrate the importance of cleanliness. Who is Shitala Mata? When did the worship of Shitala Mata start? Why did people start worshipping Mata Shitala? Shitala Mata is mentioned in Skanda Purana, Chapter 12.

sanatkumāra uvāca (Sanat kumara said)

uttare tu pravakṣyāmi markaṭeśvaramuttamam | tatra tīrthaṃ ca vikhyātaṃ sarvakāmapradāyakam || 1 || tatra tīrthaṃ ca vikhyātaṃ sarvakāmapradāyakam || 1 ||	Hereafter I shall describe the excellent Markaṭeśvara. There is a well-known Tīrtha there, which fulfils all desires.
tasmiṃstīrthe naraḥ snātvā gośatasya phalaṃ labhet | visphoṭānāṃ praśāṃtyarthaṃ bālānāṃ caiva kāraṇe || 2 || visphoṭānāṃ praśāṃtyarthaṃ bālānāṃ caiva kāraṇe || 2 ||	By taking the holy bath in that Tīrtha a man shall acquire the benefit (of the gift) of a hundred cows. For the sake of quelling boils and blisters (of smallpox) and for the sake of the children, a devotee takes Masūra lentils by measures and grinds them. Due to the power of Śhītalā, children become free from the disease.
māpena māpitānkṛtvā masūrāṃstatra kuṭṭayet | śītalāyāḥ prabhāvena bālāḥ saṃtu nirāmayāḥ || 3 ||
ye paśyaṃti narā bhaktyā śītalāṃ duritāpahām | na teṣāṃ duṣkṛtaṃ kiṃcinna dāridryaṃ dvijottama || 4 || na ca rogabhayaṃ teṣāṃ grahapīḍā tathaiva ca || 5 ||	O excellent Brāhmaṇa, neither sin nor poverty afflicts those men who devoutly visit Śhītalā, the destroyer of sins. Nor need they fear ailments or the affliction of malignant Planets.

 

Ma Shitala is an incarnation of Parvati. Devi Mahatmyam states that Goddess Katyayani took the form of Shitala to slay the demon Jwarasura. The demon was afflicting the people of the world with all kinds of pain and anguish, Mata Shitala killed Jwarasura and relieved the people of their afflictions. Shitala signifies cool and therefore, she is the Goddess who can cool a fever infested body.

 

There is a festival called Shitala Ashtami or Basoda Puja that is celebrated a week after the Holi festival. Basoda Puja signifies eating of food from the previous day. A similar tradition is observed in the state of Gujarat called Randan Chath except the festival is here celebrated in the month of Shravan (July - August).

 

There are many localised stories and versions of stories associated with Shitala Mata and Shitala Ashtami in Rajasthan, Gujarat and other parts of North India. Here, we are going to look at a short story from the state of Gujarat.

 

A middle-aged woman lived with her two daughters in law in a small village in the state of Gujarat. Coincidentally, each of them had given birth to their baby around the time of the festival of Randan Chath. On the day of Randan Chath, the younger daughter in law after cooking the food slept for the family members, dozed off without dousing the embers of the stove.

 

On the day of Randan Chath, it is believed that Shitala Devi visits every kitchen and blesses the home and the family for prevention of illness and misfortune. She also tastes the food that is made. Which is why the carry over food of the next day is treated as a prashad.

Coming back to the story, when Shitala Devi entered this particular house and went to bless the cooking fire, her hand got burnt. She got angry and burnt the child sleeping in the cradle. When the mother woke up, she found her child dead. She was beyond herself in misery. The mother-in-law realises that the divine mother had visited the house and this misfortune occurred due to the carelessness of her daughter in law. She asks the daughter in law to seek Mata Shitala and ask for Her forgiveness.

 

The young mother quickly picks up her dead child in her arms and goes in search of Shitala Mata. On the way she sees two lakes. She is thirsty and wants to drink water. The guardian of the lakes tells her that the water is poisonous. They observe her tearful face and the dead child in her hands. They asked her where she was going. She told them about her quest to find Shitala Ma. They had a favour to ask Ma Shitala too. They requested the young mother to find out from the Divine Mother what mistake they had committed that their waters had turned poisonous and were not of any use to anyone.

 

As she proceeded further, she saw two bulls with heavy stones tied around their neck fighting with each other. They too asked her the reason for her sadness. She repeated her reason. When they learnt where the repentant mother was headed, they had a request to ask too. They asked her to pray to Shitala Ma and relieve them of their heavy burden.

 

As she continued her journey, she came across a dirty old woman in torn clothes and unkempt hair. The woman requested the young mother’s help to clean her hair of knots. The young mother took pity on the old woman and quickly helped her remove the itchy knots from her hair.

 

In a flash, there was a blinding light and the dirty old woman turned out to be the beautiful Goddess Shitala Herself.  She heard the lady plead for the life of the child, and pleased with her devotion and commitment to her family brought the child back to life.  When the young woman narrated the plight of the two lakes and the two bulls on her way, the Devi gave her the reason as to why they were suffering.

 

The Devi said, “The lakes were two women in their previous birth. They mixed water with milk and sold it to small children. That is the reason for their suffering. You take the water from the lake and sprinkle in all directions saying the name of Shitala Ma and then start drinking. They would be cured of their poison.  The bulls were two sisters in law in a rich family. They were mean and unkind to the poor who came to them for help. Remove the stones from their neck. Once they are not in pain, they will not fight.”

 

Saying this, the Devi blessed the young mother and the baby and vanished. The young mother followed Shitala Mata’s instruction and helped the two lakes and the bulls.

 

After she returned to the village, she became popular and this annoyed the older daughter in law. She strangled her own child and repeated all that the other girl did. Except she was not kind to the lakes or the bulls or the old lady. Unfortunately, neither did she get the darshan of the devi, nor did her child come back to life.

 

Shitala Ma – Symbolism and Meanings

The Ma is portrayed as holding a broom and pot of water (some believe it is nectar) that soothes and gives the ailing devotee peace. The broom signifies cleanliness of the surrounding areas where Ma visits. Many sects in the Northern part of the country believe that the Divine Mother sprays the nectar and spreads it around the house using the broom.

 

The neem leaves indicate the cooling effect that the visit of the Divine Mother brings to a household. Neem leaves are considered medicinal and sacred in India.

The winnowing fan indicates the sifting of the unwanted germs and stones from the food. It is a typical stuff used for cleanliness. The donkey signifies the selfless and uncomplaining nature of the mother in helping her devotees who are ailing and in distress.

 

A Divine Mother who blesses us specifically against the diseases provides a huge solace to various people who are in pain and distress due to ailments is unique indeed. Modern medicine has its place and so does belief. May Shitala Ma bless everyone for a disease-free life.