Hindu Vedic Philosophy (Sanatana Dharma, Morals, Rituals and Articles)

The Blessed Lord said:
Even if the most sinful worships Me, with devotion to non else, he too should indeed be regarded as righteous, for he has rightly (firmly) resolved.
[Note: Commentary by Swami Shivananda: By abandoning the evil ways in his external life and by the force of his internal right resolution, he becomes righteous and attains to eternal peace.]
Shitala Satam (Saptami)
Compiled by Shree Veeranandaji Maharaj.
(Deity presiding over the disease of smallpox. On this day, food
cooked on the previous day (unheated) is eaten by the Vratdhari)
This vrat is observed in the month of Sravana on the seventh
day of the dark fortnight. On this day Shitalamata’s puja is performed
after taking bath with cold water. One cold meal is eaten during
the day.
It is written in the Skand Purana that donkey is the vehicle of Shitalamata. Shitalamata holds a broom in her one hand and a kalash (container with water) in her other hand. The one who observes the Shitala vrat bathes in a river or in a lake. There Shitaladevi’s image (murti) is placed on the banks of river or lake. Shitaladevi is offered cooked food and ghee. On this day cold food is eaten; the food that was cooked the previous day (cooked on chhatthi or sixth day). For the vratdhari (one who observes this vrat), it is forbidden to eat warmed or hot food on this day.
Those who can afford it, can make golden image of Shitaladevi and together with the image of the vehicle (donkey) place the devi's image on eight petalled lotus flower. Offer obeisance with joined palms saying ‘My pranam to Shitaladevi’ and make puja. In some places people offer raw flour and gor (molasses) as naivedya to the devi. It is customary to eat only one meal on Shitala Saptami day.
Katha(from Bhavishyottar Purana)
In the olden days, Hastinapur was ruled by king Indralumna. His wife’s name was Pramila who was full of faith and devotion and was keen on performing religious ceremonies and rituals. They had a son, Mahadharma by name and their daughter’s name was Shubhakaari. She was given in marriage to prince Gunvaan, son of king Sumati who ruled Kaundinyanagar.
Prince Gunvaan lived up to his name. He was a virtuous prince. A year after the wedding, Gunvaan went to his in-laws to fetch his wife. The king (his wife’s father) asked his son-in-law to stay over because the next day was the day of Shitala Saptami vrat. The king invited a Brahmin and his wife for the ceremony of Shitala Saptami vrat. The king’s daughter Shubhakari mounted a chariot and with her female friends set out for the puja ceremony of Shitaladevi. The puja was to take place by some lake.
Unfortunately, they took a wrong turn and got lost. Leaving the chariot, they started walking on foot, and dispersed in different directions. Princess Shubhakari was overcome by fatigue and sat under a tree. She saw an elderly woman approaching her and asked her for directions.
“O girl, follow me and I will lead you to a lake” said the old woman and took them to a lake. The princess bathed in the lake and with devotion and faith, placed the image of Shitaladevi on a makeshift platform of stone. The old lady was herself Shitaladevi. She was well pleased. Placing her hand on the head of Princess Shubhakari she asked her to state her wish.
The princess said: “Mother, I shall surely ask when the need arises”.
Then the old lady (Shitaladevi) escorted the princess and her female friends to the lake where they were to meet the Brahmin and his wife. The Brahmin’s wife was heard crying aloud. Princess Subhakari went to her and saw that her husband was lying dead, apparently bitten by a snake.
Princess Shubhakari again bathed in the lake and concentrated her mind upon Shitaladevi and stated her wish: “Mother, please bring back to life this Brahmin”.
Bhagavati Shitaladevi was pleased and restored life to the Brahmin. Everybody was full of joy. They all performed Shitaladevi’s puja and returned home
People of Hastinapur were filled with awe on hearing that the dead Brahmin was brought back to life. The citizens together with the parents of the princess made a murti of Shitaladevi and celebrated this day in the manner of a festival. After staying for a few more days, Princess Shubhakari went with Prince Gunvaan to her in-laws. There also, being impressed by Shitalamata, they developed faith and devotion. It is said that the children of those who are Shitala vratdhai (who observe this vrat) do not suffer from smallpox and that their wishes get fulfilled.
Nori-Nem vrat (resolution) carries great significance. This vrat is observed in the month of Sravana on the ninth day of the bright fortnight. Mostly women observe this vrat. Women who have become mothers do the ritual ceremonies as follows:
On this day women get up early in the morning and after taking morning bath and wearing clean clothes, worship the image of a mongoose. Usually a Brahmin is asked to make a murti of a mongoose from the flour of juvar corn and turmeric (haldi). Place the murti on a baajat (square stool) for puja. Ingredients for the puja include mung beans, juvar, baajari and unhusked grains. These are offered to the mongoose. Thereafter these ingredients are given over to the Brahmin. Charity is an important element of this vrat and therefore, according to means, give to Brahmins and to deserving charities.
The woman observing this vrat usually would include in her meals mung beans and grams (chana). Roti can be made from chana flour or Mung beans flour. Unhusked pulses can also be used for meals.
The story connected with this vrat is set out in brief as follows:
There was a poor Brahmin. His wife was full of faith and devotion displaying lots of spirituality. She had unswerving faith in the gods and goddesses. She had become a mother and loved her infant child more than her own life.
This woman used to observe the vrat of Nori-Nem and in due course she obtained a great reward for observing this vrat.
One day her infant child was sleeping in the cot. She went to the village well to fetch water for her house. Her husband had gone to the temple. Thus her infant was left alone in the house. Just then a black snake slowly descended from the roof of the house and climbed upon the cot. The infant in the cot was awake with an innocent smile on the face. How was the infant to know that death was staring face to face? The snake kept staring at the infant and then raised its hood in preparation for striking the infant. Within a fraction of a second, before the fangs of the snake can deliver its deadly poison to the infant’s feet, a mongoose caught hold of the snake and removed it from the cot.
Just then the infant’s mother returned to the house. She saw the mongoose and the snake and immediately realised what had happened. Her vrat of Nori-Nem was rewarded. Devata had come as a mongoose to save the life of her child.