In Hinduism, Goddess
Shitala, or Sheetala Mata,
is considered an aspect of
Shakti. Popularly she is
the Hindu goddess of
small pox in North India
and is known to spread
the dreaded disease and
cure it. In rural India, she
is also considered as an
incarnation of Goddess
Parvati and Durga, which
are two forms of Shakti.
Goddess Shitala is popular
as Mariamman in Tamil
Nadu. She is undoubtedly
one of the most popular
rural deities and her origin
can be traced to the days
of Nature Worship.
Legend has it that
Goddess Shitala wears a
red-colored dress and
rides around the villages
in North India on a
donkey (ass) and inflicting
people with the dreaded
pox – small pox, chicken
pox etc. Symbolically, she
represents Nature ’s power
of generating viruses
causing disease and
Nature ’s healing power
and...
