GODDESSES OF EPIDEMICS

The Myth and Epidemics

Shitala (Hindi: “She Who Is Cool”) Indian goddess of smallpox and of other infectious diseases. She is worshipped under this name throughout the regions of South Asia in which Indo-Aryan languages are spoken. In India she is widely worshipped in the rural areas of West Bengal state. In much of Dravidian-speaking India, a goddess called Mariamma possesses similar disease-causing powers. Although temples to Shitala are found in various places in North India, including Varanasi (Benares), her mythology is highly elaborated in West Bengal and Bangladesh, where mangal-kavya (“auspicious poems”) in Bengali, dating mainly from the 18th and 19th centuries, describe the appearance of the goddess among mortals, their rejection of her, and the smallpox epidemics that she visited upon them. She is worshipped in villagewide rites mainly in the dry weather of winter and spring, the seasons most favourable to smallpox transmission. 

As an incarnation of Supreme Goddess Durga, she cures poxes, sores, ghouls, pustules and diseases, acclaimed by Hindus. Goddess Sheetala is worshipped on the eighth day after festival of colors (Holi), on the occasion of Sheetala Asthami.  

Shitala

One story says Goddess Durga has incarnated as little Kātyāyanī — daughter of sage Katyayan — to destroy all arrogant evil demonic forces of the world, in her real form as Durga, she killed many demons that were sent by Kaalkeya.

A demon named Jwarasura, the demon of fever, started spreading incurable diseases to Katyayani’s childhood friends, such as cholera, dysentery, measles, and smallpox. Katyayani cured the diseases of some of her friends. To relieve the world from all fevers and diseases, Katyayani assumed the form of Shitala Devi. Each of her four hands held a short broom, winnowing fan, jar of cooling water and a drinking cup. With her power, she cured all the children’s diseases.

 Katyayani then requests her friend, Batuk to go out and confront the demon Jwarasura. A battle ensued between the young Batuk and demon Jwarasura. Jwarasura succeeds in defeating Batuk. Then, Batuk, lying dead, magically faded into dust. Jwarasur was shocked that Batuk had disappeared and wondered where he had gone, not realising that Batuk had, in fact, assumed the form of an awful male figure with three eyes and four arms holding a battle-axe, sword, trident and demon head. This figure was pitch-black in colour with flowing locks and eyes ablaze with fury and wore a tiger-skin and a garland of skulls – for Batuk had assumed the appearance of Lord Shiva’s ferocious form, the terrible Bhairav. Bhairav reprimands Jwarasura and tells him that he is the servant of Goddess Durga (incarnate as Katyayani). A long discussion ensued but then converted into battle. Jwarasur created many demons from his powers but Bhairav managed to destroy all of them. Finally, Bhairav wrestled with Jwarasura and killed him with his trident.

Another version says that Parvati decided  the power of her coolness will bring relief to all the children and their parents. Mahadev transformed himself into Bhairav and reaches the battlefield where he confronted Jwarasura to prevent him from going around and doing any more harm to children. Both of them indulged themselves in a great and huge wrestling match.

Parvati on the other hand, transformed herself into Sheetala Devi. Sheetala Devi resembles a maiden, she was fair in complexion, wearing light and dark blue robes, wearing a minimal amount of ornaments on her limbs, three-eyed and is looking very youthful in appearance while representing an omnipotent Goddess, as being one among the incarnations of Durga. In her four hands, she held a bowl, a fan, a small broom, or a winnowing fan of some sort and she carries a pot of cold water, in which she uses to cure the diseased. She was mounted on the back of a donkey as her vehicle. Goddess Sheetala started her mission on providing relief to the children. Wherever Goddess Sheetala went around and over the world, with her most effective tool, her cold and cooling water brought relief to all children, of all shapes, sizes, colors, and ages. They were all completely restored to their good health, which brought instant relief to them and to joy to all the parents. Seeing Goddess Sheetala, everybody paid their homage to her and all the children thanked her for curing their incurable fever and purifying them.

Then, Goddess Sheetala makes an appearance in the battlefield where Bhairav and Jwarasura were fighting against each other. Sheetala Devi berates Jwarasur for his misdeeds towards young children as he spread fever to them. Bhairav also lets Jwarasura know that not only can Goddess Sheetala cure poxes, sores, ghouls, pustules and diseases, she is a goddess of sores, ghouls, and diseases and she can give them too. She is the cause as well as the cure. Finally, Sheetala Devi severely infected Jwarasura with an intense case of smallpox, thus putting an end to his reign of terror for once and for all. Mahadev liberates himself from Bhairav and Parvati frees herself from Goddess Sheetala Devi. They both returned home to Kailash.Oladevi is the goddess of cholera and the wife of the Asura Mayasura and is worshipped by people in the region of Bengal (consisting of the country Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal) and Marwar. The goddess is also known as Olaichandi, Olabibi and Bibima. She is venerated by Hindus and Muslims of Bengal.

She is also worshipped in Rajasthan along with Maa Shitala as companion, saving her devotees from diseases like cholera, jaundice, diarrhoea and other stomach related diseases. She is called Ori Mata. In Marwari tradition, she has no fixed iconography but generally she is depicted like Shitala.

Oladevi is an important part of folk tradition in Bengal, and is honoured by communities of different religions and cultures.

To Hindus, Oladevi is the combined form of the Goddesses Lakshmi and Saraswati, portrayed as a lady with deep yellow skin wearing a blue sari and adorned with ornaments. She is portrayed with extended arms and seated with a child in her lap.  The Muslims of Bengal call her Olabibi or Bibima from Olabibi Gan (Song of Olabibi), which recounts the story of the child of a virgin Muslim princess that disappeared mystically and reappeared as the Goddess, curing the sons of the minister of the kingdom and the badshah, the father of her mother.

Myriad Forms of Durga in Bengal:

1.Bipattarini : Goddess “Bipatarini Chandi” is worshiped mainly in south 24 parganas. Goddess Bipattarini Chandi is a mixed form of Durga and Kali . She protects from all sorrows.

2.Rajballavi : Goddess is celebrated in Jangipara and Rajbalhat in Hoogly district . She has been the goddess of power for many centuries .She is the mixed form of Durga , Kali and Saraswati.

3.Ola Devi or Olai Chandi : Goddess “Manasha” has been worshiped to be safe from snake bite.Like wise “Devi Shitala” has been worshiped for the disease “Chicken Pox” . Bengal worships Ola Devi to remain safe from Cholera . She is mainly worshiped in south 24 parganas and also is known us Bibima.

4.Manasha-Jagatgouri : Jagjiban Ghoshal who has been a poet in North Bengal described Manasha as a daughter and wife of “Dharma”  .Dharma created Brahma,Vishnu and Maheswar, after that he created Manasha (a beautiful daughter).Manasha was beautiful in her youth when Dharma married her daughter .But he realized the mistake . Manasha transformed herself to a baby of 3 days and she was floated in the water in a cascade by three brothers Brahma,Vishnu and Maheswar. Rishi Hemant brought up in the name of Durga. This is a story of Durga and Manasha blending  in an unique form.

5.Mahishashurmardini (Devi Jogadya) : This story is in the satyayug when Sati sacrificed her life in the Yagna of Daksha and Shiva  carrying Sati’s body in Shoulder in full fury.Lord Vishnu made the body of Sati shred into pieces to  control  Shiva….. The right  toe of sati fell in the “Khirgram”of Burdwan District .Devi is worshiped in the form of “Jogadya”(Mahamaya).

6.Rankini : “Rakini”is worshiped all over Bengal but specially in Chotonagpur,Western Rar area. The people of those regions believe that “Rankini” is a form of Devi Durga and Kali or Bhairavi. Amarendranath Majumder has written “Bhairav Rankini Mahatto”.Local people believe that though Rankini is very powerfull and full of fiery , she is very pleased when worshiped with devotion .

7.Baram Chandi : The tribal people of Medinipur ,Bankura and Hooghly district of Bengal worship this Devi with devotion .She is a local goddes and worshiped with much pride specially in Medinipur .She is worshiped once a year .But the tribals call “Baram Parab” (festival).

8.Bhandali or Bandurga : She is the local goddess of North Bengal . In Coochbehar village Gopalpur , in Jalpaiguri Padamati village and Bhandali villages devi is worshiped with much pride. She is a mixed form of Durga , Kali and Bhaishnav Power .

9.Mangal Chandi : Devi Mangal Chandi is worshiped in Bengal and is a form of “Adya Shakti Durga” .In Chandi Mangal, Devi killed the demon Mangal and became Mangal Chandi .