Shitala Temple

Shitala (Sheetala), also called Sitala is a Hindu goddess widely worshipped in North India, West Bengal, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan as the pox-goddess. She is the Goddess of sores, ghouls, pustules and diseases in Hindu mythology.

Name and variants

Shitala literally means smallpox in Sanskrit. Shitala is worshipped under different names all through the subcontinent. Shitala is primarily popular among the people of North India and the Indian Diasporas. In some traditions she is identified with an aspect of Parvati, the consort of Shiva. Ferrari (2009: 146-147) reports that Shitala is addressed with the following titles. People in the Indian Subcontinent and abroad (i.e. in the West but particularly in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Bali)

Shitala puja

The worship of Shitala is conducted by both Brahmins and low caste pujaris. She is primarily worshipped in the dry seasons of winter and spring. There are many arti sangrah and stuties for the puja of maa shitala.some of them are shri shitla mata chalisa, Shri Shitala maa ki arti, shri shitala mata ashtak etc.

Iconography and symbolism

Shitala along with her consort Jvarasura is also sometimes depicted with a shady woman called Raktavati (Possessor of Blood). She is often worshiped with Oladevi, another disease goddess.

Buddhism

In Buddhist culture, Jvarasura and Shitala are depicted sometimes as companions of Paranasabari, the Budhhist goddess of diseases. Jvarasura and Shitala are shown escorting her to her right and left side, respectively. In some images these deities are shown as flying away to escape from wrath of the Buddhist goddess Vajrayogini, destroyer of diseases.