Sheetala Ashtami 2025 Puja is one of the most celebrated rituals in India. It is known as the Basoda puja and occurs on the eighth day of the Krishna Paksha in April-May (Chaitra month in Hinduism). Bengalis celebrate Sheetla puja on a grand scale, and it happens after the eight days of Holi. It is believed that Shitala Mata is an incarnation of Goddess Durga, and she took the avatar to cure diseases and ailments of humans.

Let us discover the Vedic story of her birth and what forces Goddess Durga to become Devi Shitala.

Unearth the Significance of Goddess Shitala Mata 

Sheetla Devi is a beautiful avatar of Maa Durga. She is a ferocious form of Parvati, the wife of Lord Shiva. Shitala Ashtami occurs in Krishna Paksha every year. This year the puja falls on 21st March and is celebrated in North India, West Bengal, Nepal, and many other places. 

Sheetala, or Shitala, is a Sanskrit word that means “the one who cools down (things).” However, her incantation has a purpose, and that is to cure diseases and ailments such as sores, poxes, pustules, etc.

A Bengali poet, Manikra Gangopadhyay, in the 17th century, wrote “Sitala Mangal Kabyas” and praised the incarnation of Goddess Durga with the poems.

She is worshiped in different Hindu communities and tribal groups and is known by different names such as Jagrani, Mangala, Bhagavati, Dayamayi, and Karunamayi in northern India. Mariamman in southern India and Kripi, the wife of Dronacharya, in Haryana.

Features and Characteristics of Shitala Maa | Sheetala Ashtami 2025 Puja

Indian mythology and ancient texts describe gods and goddesses beautifully and the reason behind their physical features and characteristics. Goddess Sheetala Devi is not excluded from Vedic literature, as she too holds divine objects and cosmic powers. She is often seen seated on an ass, holding a winnowing fan, a pot, a broom, and neem leaves.

But what is the reason behind her holding such things that are completely different from other gods and goddesses? Why does she sit on an ass? Why does she hold a broom, a pot of water, and a winnowing fan, and carry neem leaves as a garland on her neck? Many questions may surprise you.

Let’s find out the origin story of Sheetala Ashtami 2025 Puja.

• Ass: Goddess Sheetala Devi is often depicted with an ass as her vahana (vehicle). However, the question pops into my mind: why an ass? Isn’t an ass considered lower in the kingdom of animals and jungle? Vedic Story and I found that ass represents humbleness, calmness, and one who is focused dutifully in times of crisis.

• Winnowing Fan: Another feature of the Goddess Shitala is that she holds a winnowing fan. It simply represents the process of purification. She separates the gems or problems from the human body using this fan to restore the original state.

• Broom: The third object Sheetala Devi carries is the broom. Using it, she spreads the germs or dust from the ill body and all the negativity that disrupts the mind from thinking positively. In the scriptures, using this broom, she defeats the demons with fatal germs and heals the suffering ones from fevers by dusting the germs out of their bodies.
  
• Pot: Shitala Devi carries a pot with healing water. She sprinkles the water on the people and soothes their problems, helping them regain their natural state of life.

• Neem leaves: Goddess Sheetla carries neem leaves as garlands. Neem is an Ayurvedic medicine with healing power. It reduces problems related to skin and other inner bodily issues. According to Vedic story and literature, the body (matter) and the soul (spirit) must be healthy to reach a higher state or grow spiritually. Neem leaves are the best way to keep the inner body healthy, as they make the spiritual path easy to follow.

What is the Story of Sheetala Mata’s Birth and Its Importance in Hinduism?

Goddess Durga, the cluster of divine Navdurga, or the nine powers, takes an avatar as Shitala Devi as per the Devi Mahatmya, an ancient text, to restore the balance in the natural order of universal functions. Maa Durga takes the form to bring the peaceful environment on Earth disturbed by an ill-fated demon, Jwarasura. She was born in Krishna Paksha, and this day is known as Sheetala Ashtami 2025 Puja. Devotees worship her, and it is known as Sheetla Ashtami Puja or Basoda Puja.

Here is the birth story of Sheetala Mata, or Sheetala Ashtami 2025 Puja:

Once upon a time, Goddess Durga took the form of Katyayani, daughter of Sage Katyayan, to protect the village from the devil and ill intentions of demons and their interruption. Kaalkeya, a demon, was troubling the villagers a lot, and Jwarasura was infecting the people with his diseases, such as chickenpox, smallpox, dysentery, cholera, and other illnesses.

Jwarasura is an asura. His name is derived from the Sanskrit word Jwara. It means fever. Jwarasura began to spread his diseases and infect people intensely. To save people, Goddess Durga took the form of Sheetala Devi, carrying a broom, winnowing fan, and cooling water, and began to wipe out the diseases. 

Thereafter, she ran behind the demons, asking her friend Batuk to stop Jwarasura. Batuk fought with Jwarasura for some time but died later. Seeing the defeat of Batuk, Jwara was happy. However, he noticed that Batuk’s body turned into dust and was surprised.

Later, the demon encountered a fierce fight with a three-eyed, four-armed, dark-skinned warrior holding an ax, a sword, a trident, and demon heads as his garlands. Jwarasura got frightened. 

Jwarasura asked who he was and found out the warrior was Muddha (fool). Muddha asked Jwara to surrender to the feet of Goddess Katyayani, but in his foolishness, the demon denied it. Batuk’s dust took the form of Shiva, and Bhairava, and began fighting with Jwarasura. Bhairava beheaded Jwarasura and ended his havoc on humans.

Why Is Sheetla Maa Worshiped as the Goddess of Cure?

Goddess Sheetla is an incarnation of Durga and is worshipped regionally under different names. You may find her with Jvarasura, a demon who causes fevers. Sheetala as Ghentu Debata, the goddess of skin diseases, Raktabati, the goddess of blood infections, and Oladevi, a goddess of diseases like cholera in all of India.

If you wish to worship Goddess Shitala, you must bring Shree Shitala Mata Yantra, as it protects against various diseases and helps you gain strength to overcome life crises.

This year, the Sheetala Ashtami 2025 Puja falls on the 21st of March and makes the day auspicious and curable for all diseases and illnesses.