Sheetla Ashtmi Puja

Hello guys, today my blog is about Sheetla Ashtmi puja. Several questions arises after listening the name of this Puja like

• What is Sheetla Ashtmi Puja?
• Why, when, where and how this puja celebrated?
• What is the importance of this puja?

And many more…..

Before that we have to know about some facts of Sheetla Maa. She is the one incarnations of Goddess Durga and is known for curing ailments such as chicken pox, sores, pustules, and many other diseases. The word itself Sheetla means ‘the one who cools down something’.

What is Sheetla Ashtmi Puja?

Sheetla Ashtmi also known as ‘Basoda Puja’ and is celebrated on Ashtmi means according to Hindu calendar eighth day of Krishna Paksha in Chatra month (March-April) or 8 days after Holi.

This Puja basically popular in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh.

Why, when, where and how this puja celebrated?

Rise early in the morning and take bath with this mantra:

“Ganga Cha Yamuna Chaiva Godaveri  Saraswati,

Narmada Sindhu Kaveri Jalesmin Sannidhim Kuru”

After taking bath, get ready with new or traditional dresses (like Poshak or Sarees) and jewelries and visit a Sheetla Mata Mandir. Some people worship at home by installing deity picture, some people worship under the Khejdi tree with 8 leaves of Khejdi tree consider as their Sheetla Maa. Offer her Curd, Rabri, sings Shri Sheetla Maa Chalisa, says Vrat Katha, sings Arti and also offer the Food items that are prepared on the previous day. Families worship her for the protection of their children against these diseases.

What is the importance of this puja?

Sheetla Mata Puja celebrated on this day to keep diseases away and stay Protected. It brings prosperity and good health.

Sheetla Maa Story:

People believe that in the long run there was a Rakshas named jwaraSur who infected the village by diseases like chickenpox, smallpox dysentery, and cholera etc…then Incarnation of Goddes Durga as Katyani devi protected young children but when the spread intensified she turns into Sheetla Devi who held a short broom, riding on a Donkey, winnowing fan, a jar of cooling and a drinking cup and wiped out the diseases.

Later she asked ‘Batuk’ the form Shiva, Bhairav to fight with JwaraSur. He beheaded the JwaraSur with his cosmic Trident and ending his ruthless atrocity.

Interesting Fact: You know why Sheetla Maa riding on a Donkey because Donkey is an animal that does not have diseases like Chikungunya, Chicken pox etc..

~Shweta Verma