Folk Lore Notes. Vol. I—Gujarat

by A. M. T. Jackson

One of the remedies adopted to stop an epidemic of cholera is to propitiate Shiva by the performance of Rudrayāg,[17] Mahārudra,[17] Shatachandi,[17] Homahavan and by bestowing gifts on Brāhmans and other holy men.[18] Sometimes vows are observed with the same object in honour of a minor local deity named Lala Hardev.[19] Another method of driving off the disease is to convey it to the body of a goat or a ram, or a he-buffalo, and to drive the animal out of the village.[20]

Small-pox is believed to be the act of the goddess Shitalā Mātā, who spreads the disease whenever she is desirous of having victims.[21] Thus, in cases of small-pox, the patient very often receives no medical treatment, the only remedies adopted being directed towards the propitiation of the Mātā.[22] A number of vows are taken in the Mātā’s name, to be fulfilled after the patient has recovered. Many people accomplish their vows before the Shitalā Mātā at Kalavad in Jāmnagar. A vow to visit this place after the patient’s recovery, and to abstain from certain things till the day of the visit, is taken by the mother of the affected person in case of a severe attack. But almost every village contains a temple of Shitalā Mātā, and those, who cannot go to Kalavad, vow in the name of the local Mātā.[21] One of such vows is to go to the temple of the Mātā with a burning hearth on the head.[21] Such a vow is generally undertaken by the patient’s mother.

Ordinarily in a case of small-pox, the patient is not allowed to bathe till he is completely free from all traces of the disease. A bath is then given on a Sunday, a Tuesday, or a Thursday, with water which has been heated by being placed in the sun. An image of Shitalā Mātā is set up in the house near the water room, and the patient worships the image after the bath. The image is drawn in cowdung with two cotton seeds to represent the eyes. An offering of kulera[23] and curds is made to the goddess. Five virgins are invited to dinner, and are served with cold food. All the members of the household also partake of cold food. On the 7th or the 13th day of the bright half of a month the patient is taken to the temple of Shitalā Mātā, when a cocoanut is broken in the presence of the goddess. Half of the cocoanut is brought home, the other half being carried away by the Mātā’s attendant. Some people place a new earthen vessel filled with water near the goddess. Silver eyes, which may be worth anything between half an anna and half a rupee, are dedicated to the Mātā.[21]

The first visit to the Mātā should take place on a Sunday or a Tuesday. The things vowed to the goddess are dedicated on this occasion. It is also necessary to go to the goddess again on the next Tuesday or Thursday after the first visit. This time only water and red lac are offered.[24]

During the course of the disease no low-caste person and no woman in her monthly course is allowed to cast his or her shadow on the patient.[21] The women in the house are prohibited from combing their hair, or churning curdled milk, or indulging in sexual intercourse. Such acts are believed to cause extreme displeasure to the Mātā, who then causes some limb of the patient to be affected. Branches of nimb leaves are suspended over the doors of the house, and also round the patient’s bed. The same leaves are used to fan the patient.[21]

When a child suffers from the disease, it is often weighed against dates, which are first dedicated to the goddess, and then distributed amongst the poor.[25] The child is taken to bow down before the goddess after nine or ten days from the date of attack, and the mother of the child offers several things to the Mātā, among which are grapes, sugar, a pinch of flour, a small earthen bowl full of water, and a blank sheet of paper.[26]

Different things are dedicated to the goddess according as the disease affects one part of the body or another. For instance, flour of bājrā or juvāri is offered in case of bronchitis; silver models of the human eye when the disease affects the eyes; a goras (a black earthen vessel full of curds) in case of morbid heat; a piece of black paper, in high fever, and salt if there is an itching sensation.[27] The Mātā is said to live on cold food and to be very fond of things which have a cooling effect such as fruits, sugar, etc. The same things are given to the patient as food.[28]

To secure the protection of Shitalā Mātā for their children, women annually observe the vow of shili sātem on the 7th day of the dark half of Shrāvan. On this day the Mātā is said to visit every house and to roll herself on the hearth. No fire is, therefore, lighted in the hearth on this day: for if the Mātā comes and is scorched by the fire she is sure to bring misfortune on that household. For this reason, a number of dainties and all the food necessary for the day is prepared on the previous day. On the day of shili sātem, juvāri seeds are spread on the hearth, and after being sprinkled with red lac, a cowdung bowl containing a plant called vaṇa is placed upon them. The women of the house bathe with cold water and take only one meal during the day. They further abstain from sewing and embroidering during that day. Sometimes a Brāhman is engaged to recite the Shitalā shloka from a book called Rudrayāmal.[29]

The following legend is related of shili sātem. A certain woman once forgot to extinguish the fire in her hearth on Rāndhan Chhetha (lit. cooking sixth), i.e., the day previous to shili sātem. On the next day, the Mātā was scorched in the stomach when she came to roll herself on the hearth. In extreme anger the goddess cursed the woman saying that her only son would be burnt to death; and immediately the boy died. In her anguish the unfortunate mother confessed her fault to a friend, who advised her to go to the jungle and entreat the Mātā to give back her son. She found the goddess rolling in distress under a bābul tree. The woman slowly approached her, and began to comb out the Mātā’s hair. She then placed her son in the Mātā’s lap and entreated the goddess to revive the boy. The Mātā felt much relieved by the woman’s attentions and blessed her saying that her bosom should be as quiet as her own head. Immediately, at these words, the boy revived, to the intense joy of his mother.[30]

Women whose relatives have recovered from a dangerous attack of small-pox observe a vow on every sātem, i.e., the 7th day of the dark half of every month. They first bathe with cold water and, after offering an oblation of kulerā, take their meals only once during the day. This food has to be prepared on the previous day.