SHITALA
Hindu Sickness Goddess
Goddess of Colds, Flu, Smallpox and Disease
Smallpox? When it comes to deities who deal in horrible things, Shitala must be in the top ten.
She’s known as Mother Cold. Probably because she stands around naked to encourage the chills and shivers. This doesn’t sound very cool to us. Let’s be honest, her name does not inspire much enthusiasm either.
Shitala has a golden face and dresses in red like a malevolent Red Riding Hood. If you wish to avoid catching a horrible disease, be sure to give her a gift. We hear she is fond of flowers.
Although smallpox has now been eradicated from the surface of the Earth, Shitala still gets a fair bit of attention from those with nervous tendencies. After all, what if it comes back?
Shitala Facts and Figures
Name: Shitala
Pronunciation: Coming soon
Alternative names:
Gender: Female
Type: Goddess
Celebration or Feast Day: Unknown at present
Role:
In charge of: Disease & Sickness
Area of expertise: Disease, Sickness, Illness
Good/Evil Rating: BAD, best avoided
Popularity index: 3393
Cite this article
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Article last revised on November 04, 2018 by Rowan Allen.
Editors: Peter J. Allen, Chas Saunders
References: Coming soon.