Sheetala Ashtakam/शीतला अष्टकम

Sheetala Ashtakam (शीतला अष्टकम): Sheetala Ashtakam is in Sanskrit. It is from Skanda Purana. Shitaladevi is for removing all sorts of deceases mainly from fire, heat, burning, and like. Goddess Shitala protects from explosion, fire, accidents and excessive of heat. One should recite Sheetala Ashtakam to receive blessings from Shitaladevi and for protection.

Shitala is a folk deity, worshiped by many faiths in the Indian subcontinent, notably in North India, West Bengal, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan. As an incarnation of Supreme Goddess Durga, she cures poxes, sores, ghouls, pustules and diseases. Goddess Sheetala is worshipped on the eighth day after festival of colours (Holi), on the occasion of Sheetala Ashtakam.

Shitala literally means “one who cools” in Sanskrit. Shitala is worshiped under different names in various parts of the subcontinent. Shitala is more often called Ma and Mata (‘mother’) and is worshiped by Hindus, Buddhists and tribal communities. She is mentioned in Tantric and Puranic literature and her later appearance in vernacular texts (such as the Bengali 17th century Shitala-mangal-kabyas, ‘auspicious poetry’) has contributed to strengthen her status.

Shitala is primarily popular in regions of North India. In some traditions she is identified with an aspect of Parvati, the consort of Shiva. Shitala is addressed as Mother, as a seasonal goddess (Vasant, i.e. Spring) and with honorific titles such as Thakurani, Jagrani (‘Queen of the World’), Karunamayi (‘She who is full of mercy’), Mangala (‘The Auspicious One’), Bhagawati (‘The Goddess’), Dayamayi (‘She who is Full of Grace and Kindness’). The role of Shitala in South India is taken by the Goddess incarnate Mariamman, who is worshiped by Dravidian-speaking people.

Shitala is the form of folk demi-goddess Katyayani. She gives coolness to the patients of fever. According to Devi Mahatmya when a demon named Jvarasura gave bacterial fever to all the children, goddess Katyayani came in the form of Shitala to purify children`s blood and to destroy the bacteria of fever in blood. In Sanskrit ‘jvara’ means “fever” and ‘shītala’ means “coolness”. Shitala is sometimes also depicted with Jvarasura, the fever demon; Ghentu-debata, the god of skin diseases; Raktabati, the goddess of blood infections and the sixty-four epidemics; and is often worshiped with Oladevi, another disease goddess (some say of cholera).

Sheetala Ashtakam Benefits:

• It gives the relief from communicable diseases when chanted regularly.
• For getting relief particularly from Chicken Pox reciting Sheetala Ashtakam is too beneficial.

Who has to recite this Sheetala Ashtakam:

• The persons who are suffering from communicable diseases must recite Sheetala Ashtakam regularly.
• For further details please contact Astro Mantra.

शीतला अष्टकम/Sheetala Ashtakam

अस्य श्री शीतलास्तोत्र मन्त्रस्य महादेव ऋषिः अनुष्टुप् छन्दः शीतला देवीं

महालक्ष्मीर्बीजम्  श्रीभवानी शक्तिः सर्वाविस्फोटकनिवृत्तये जपे विनियोगः ।

॥ भगवानुवाच ॥

वन्देऽहं शीतलां देवीं रासभस्थां दिगम्बरम् ।

मार्जनीकलशोपेताम्   शूर्पालंकृतमस्तकाम् ॥ १ ॥

वन्देऽहं  शीतलां  देवीं  सर्वरोगभयापहाम् ।

यामासाद्य  निवर्तेत  विस्फोटकभयं  महत् ॥ २ ॥

शीतले  शितले  चेति  यो  ब्रूयद्दाहपीडितः ।

विस्फोटकभयं  घोरं  क्षिप्रं  तस्य प्रणश्यति ॥ ३ ॥

यस्त्वामुद्कमध्ये  तु  धृत्वा  पूजयते   नरः ।

विस्फोटकभयं  घोरं  गृहे  तस्य  न  जायते ॥ ४ ॥

शीतले   ज्वरदग्धस्य   पूतिगन्धयुतस्य  च ।

प्रणष्टचक्षुषः   पुंसस्त्वामाहुर्जीवनौष्धम् ॥ ५ ॥

शीतले तनुजान्रोगान् नृणां हरसि दुस्त्यजान् ।

विस्फोटकविदिर्णानां   त्वमेकाऽमृतवर्षिणी ॥ ६ ॥

गलगण्डग्रह्या रोगा ये चान्ये दारुणा नृणाम् ।

त्वदनुध्यानमात्रेण  शीतले  यान्ति  संक्षयम् ॥ ७ ॥

न  मन्त्रो  नौषधं  तस्य  पापरोगस्य विद्यते ।

त्वामेकां शीतले धात्रीं नान्यां पश्यामि देवताम् ॥ ८ ॥

मृणालतन्तुसदृशीं  नाभिहृन्म  यसंस्थिताम् ।

       || इति श्री शीतलाष्टकम सम्पूर्णं ||