The North Indian traditional calendar states that Sheetala Ashtami is observed during the Chaitra (March–April) months by worshipping the Devi Sheetala. The Hindus celebrate Sheetala Ashtami on the eighth day of Krishna Paksha during the month of Chaitra. Most experts agree that performing this Vrata will help repair a variety of diseases. Sheetala Ashtami 2023, sometimes referred to as Basoda, will take place in the first few days of March. Let’s learn more about this festival as well as how to commemorate it.
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In the Skanda Purana, Goddess Shetala is attributed to treating diseases and epidemics. Humans appear to Sheetala Mata to help her progeny when big epidemics and infectious diseases endanger Earth’s life. Hence, she is holding a pot of medication in one hand and broom or neem branches in her second, which symbolises her capacity to purify the air.
Date, time, and puja muhurat for Sheetala Ashtami
Tuesday, March 14, 2023, is Sheetala Saptami. In the meantime, Sheetala Ashtami will be on March 15, 2023, on that day. The Basoda puja can be performed at the next Shubh muhurat time.
- Sunrise: March 15th, 6:39 A.M.
- Sunset: March 15 at 06:31
- Prayer Hours: March 15, 2023, from 6:31 AM to 6:29 PM
- Tithi begins at 8:22 PM on March 14, 2023.
- Tithi expires at 6:45 PM on March 15, 2023.
Sheetala Ashtami significance
The demon Jwarasura is depicted in the story of Sheetala Ashtami. In the shape of a person, he stands in for several calamities and contagious diseases. People become ill and die when Jwarasura’s deeds become more intense. The devil had created an illness that could not be cured by medicine. Thus they praised Shakti, the High Priestess.
As Sheetala Mata, she appeared and protected her devotees. She also cleansed the area, disinfected the water, and removed disease from the air. She defeated the devil and turned him into a donkey. He apologised for his behaviour. He started to be her go-to guy. People in several regions of India offer prayers to the goddess Sheetala in hopes that she may heal them of different ailments, including chickenpox.
An important ritual involving aged food is performed on Sheetala Ashtami. The day before Sheetala Ashtami puja, the food that will be served is prepared. They offer the Sheetala Devi a variety of dishes on this day. Also, people feed the elderly and beg for their good manners.
Sheetala Ashtami Vrat's mythological story
A Brahmin family had seven sons, but none of them had children from their several long-ago unions. An old woman from that neighbourhood urged the Brahmin to practise Sheetala Shashti fasting after hearing him talk. After a year of the daughters-in-fast, all of the law’s women became mothers to sons.
When a Brahmin once failed to observe the fast, she found her boys’ bodies the next night. She woke up her husband in horror, but he was already dead. The neighbours told them Sheetala Devi’s rage caused all of this because everyone was in a terrible state and crying while hearing the uproar. Depressed, the Brahmin went to the woods and told an older woman the whole thing. She was indeed Sheetala Devi.
To decrease the burning, she asked the Brahmin to apply curd to his skin. After realising what transpired, the Brahmin apologised and begged for the family’s life before collapsing at her feet. When she asked for the curd to be put to their bodies, all 7 of his sons, his husband, and his daughter-in-law were miraculously revived.
Sheetala Ashtami puja
- During Sheetala Ashtami, householders are expected to abstain from burning fires to cook. Thus, prepare meals a day in advance and consume the leftovers on an actual day.
- Invoke the meaning of Basoda by adhering to the custom of presenting expired food to Devi Sheetala .
- Take a bath before the puja, in the early morning, before it gets light.
- Next, proceed to the Sheetala Goddess temple and make an offering of the Devi Haldi and Bajra.
- After finishing the puja procedures on Basoda in 2023, be sure to listen to the Basoda Vrat Katha.
- Later, offer curd and any other required offerings to the deity Sheetala rabbi.
- Make sure you ask for blessings from your elders. Prepare the bhog for the Goddess after doing the same, then eat the leftovers throughout the day.
- Serve the “Basi Khana” to the members of your family as the prasad.
- Moreover, be sure to give the poor and underprivileged the same food as other devotees.
- On this specific day, read “Sheetalashtak” to achieve favourable outcomes.
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