The Goddess of Cold

Goddesses have generally been associated with bringing peace to the people. Their gentle and generous nature protects their devotees from many kinds of evils. Sheetala Mata is said to protect her devotees through the power of cold.

An idol of Sheetala Mata; Image Source: Aapno Jodhpur

Each season has its relative importance. But everything needs a counterpart to balance it out. The winds of autumn need the greenery of spring. Similarly, the brutal heat needs cool shade to counter the toll it takes on the populace. It is no wonder then that the relieving quality of cold has come to be worshipped in the form of a goddess.

Sheetala mata is the name of a Hindu goddess, worshipped primarily in the northern part of India. She is also a part of the lore of several Adivasi communities, albeit with different names. The goddess is associated with the sensation of cold. Her name, Sheetala directly translates to 'she who brings coolness'. Worshipping her is believed to result in relief from the overwhelming heat that engulfs the region during the summer season.

Legend says that she is one of the many reincarnations of Parvati, the wife of Lord Shiva. Another version believes her to be Lalita, the wife of Guru Dronacharya. Popular mythology depicts her as the saviour of people- especially children, fending off heat-induced problems. She is usually seen wielding a broom in popular iconography, shielding devotees against germs and other diseases. She is offered pulses and cold milk, symbolic of her powers. The Neem tree is also associated with her.

It is believed that praying to her keeps devotees safe from smallpox and other similar afflictions. Many temples devoted to her have been opened in the country, including one of the nine Shaktipeeths situated in Gurgaon- the Sheetala Mata Devi Temple. In fact, the temple hosts a massive mela for the worshippers of the devi in the Hindu month of Chaitra (March or April, according to the Gregorian calendar).

Special prayers are held for her at significant times of the year. One of these is the Sheetala Mata Ashtmi. In a unique tradition, the offerings for the goddess include day-old food. The food is prepared on the day before the puja. It is stored overnight and is presented as prasad in the temple the next morning. On the day of the puja itself, fresh food is generally not cooked at all. People consume stale food from the previous day, according to tradition.

Several locations in North India hold melas on the days of these pujas. Large crowds can be seen gathered in lines outside her temples. Prayers, reciting the virtues of the goddess, are sung from dawn. Ardent worshippers believe that true dedication to the goddess results in protection from several kinds of diseases and viruses. Several children in dire conditions have apparently been miraculously cured on visiting her threshold. She is also said to grant the wishes of the people who pray to her with a true heart.

Sheetala maa is one of the numerous powerful goddesses in the culture of the subcontinent. She is said to shield people against diseases and protect them from harmful ailments. To this day, she remains a much-revered figure in popular mythology.