Shashthi

Shashthi (Ṣaṣṭhī) is a Hindu goddess primarily worshipped as the protector of children and the bestower of fertility. Her name derives from the Sanskrit word for 'sixth,' referring to the sixth day after childbirth when she is especially venerated. She is also associated with the sixth day of the lunar fortnight. The earliest references to Shashthi appear in the Puranas, such as the Skanda Purana and the Devi Mahatmya (part of the Markandeya Purana), where she is described as a matrika (mother goddess) and a form of Devi. In the Skanda Purana, she is said to have been created by Brahma to protect children from evil spirits and diseases. The Devi Mahatmya (5.23) includes her among the saptamatrikas (seven mothers) who assist the goddess Durga in battle.

Iconographically, Shashthi is depicted with four arms, seated on a cat (her vahana) or a lotus. She holds a child, a lotus, and makes the abhaya mudra (gesture of fearlessness), symbolizing her protective and nurturing nature. Her association with the cat is explained in folklore: the cat is considered her mount and also a symbol of fertility and domesticity. Principal myths include her role in safeguarding the newborn Skanda (Kartikeya) as described in the Mahabharata (Vana Parva) and the Skanda Purana. According to these texts, after Skanda was born, the gods appointed Shashthi to nurse and protect him. Another popular story tells of a childless king who, after propitiating Shashthi, was blessed with a son.

Regional worship traditions are strong in Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Nepal. In Bengal, Shashthi Puja is performed on the sixth day after a child's birth, and the goddess is invoked to ensure the child's health and longevity. In Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh, she is worshipped as Chhathi Maiya during the Chhath Puja festival, which involves offerings to the sun god and the goddess on the sixth day of the lunar month. In Hindu cosmology, Shashthi is considered a guardian deity of children and a protector against infant mortality. She is also associated with the planet Shani (Saturn) in some traditions, as both are linked to the sixth day. Her worship is deeply rooted in folk traditions, but she is also recognized in classical texts as a divine mother figure.

Four-armed, seated on a cat or lotus. Holds child, lotus, and in abhaya mudra. Motherly, protective expression.