Puranic Mantra · Goddess Sheetala
शीतला मंत्र
Sheetala Mantra
Sanskrit (Devanagari)
ॐ ह्रीं श्रीं शीतलायै नमः
Transliteration
Om Hrīṃ Śrīṃ Śītalāyai Namaḥ
Meaning
Om, salutation to Goddess Sheetala — the cool one, the purifier of heat and disease. Sheetala literally means "the cool one" — she is the goddess who removes the burning heat of fever, infection, and inflammation. She is worshipped as both the cause and cure of pox, fevers, and skin diseases.
Last updated: 23 April 2026 · Traditional Vedic mantra
Benefits of Sheetala Mantra
- ·Protects children from smallpox, chickenpox, measles, and other childhood diseases
- ·Removes fevers, skin inflammations, burning sensations, and infections
- ·Brings cooling relief to both physical ailments and mental agitation
- ·Protects family members during epidemics and outbreaks of infectious disease
- ·Invoked for healthy pregnancies and protection of newborns
- ·Grants general health, vitality, and immunity from seasonal diseases
How to Chant
- 1.Sit on a clean white cloth, facing east or north; maintain a calm, cool demeanor
- 2.Offer cold water, cold rice (stale rice is traditional), curd, and blue/white flowers
- 3.Sheetala Ashtami (8th day after Holi) is her most important festival — fast and offer cold food
- 4.Use a white crystal mala or tulsi mala for chanting
- 5.Chant with a soft, gentle voice — reflecting the cooling nature of the goddess
- 6.Sprinkle cool water around the sick person while chanting for healing purposes
Best Time
Sheetala Ashtami (8th day after Holi). Monday and Friday mornings. Basant Panchami. Early morning before sunrise.
Recommended Count
108 times daily (1 mala). For healing: 1008 times on the day of illness. On Sheetala Ashtami: as many times as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.Who is Goddess Sheetala?
Goddess Sheetala is a folk deity widely worshipped across North India, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Bihar. She is depicted as a woman riding a donkey, holding a broom, a fan, and a pot of cool water. She is the goddess of smallpox, chickenpox, and other eruptive fevers — worshipped both to invoke her protection and to appease her when diseases strike. She represents the ancient Indian understanding that disease has a divine dimension and can be addressed through propitiation.
Q.What is Sheetala Ashtami?
Sheetala Ashtami falls on the 8th day (Ashtami) of the dark fortnight in the month of Chaitra (March-April), which is eight days after Holi. It is Goddess Sheetala's most important festival. On this day, devotees eat only cold food (prepared the previous day) — no cooking fires are lit. This ritual symbolizes Sheetala's nature as the "cool one" and the offering of cold food honors her. Women fast and visit Sheetala temples for the protection of their children.
Q.Is Sheetala Mata the same as Sitala?
Yes, Sheetala (also spelled Sitala or Shitala) refers to the same goddess. The name has multiple transliterations from Sanskrit and regional pronunciations. She is known as Sheetala Mata, Sitala Mata, and Shitala Devi across different regions of India, but they all refer to the same cooling, disease-averting goddess traditionally associated with smallpox and infectious fevers.