Examination of Sheetla Mata

Once Shitla Mata thought that let me see today who on earth believes in me, who worships me. Thinking this, Shitla Mata came to Dungri village in Rajasthan and saw that there is no temple of mine in this village, nor is I worshipped.

Mata Sheetla was roaming in the streets of the village, when someone threw boiled rice water (Manda) from the top of a house. That boiling water fell on Mata Sheetla due to which blisters appeared on Mata Sheetla’s body. Mata Sheetla’s entire body started burning.

Shitla Mata started running here and there in the village and shouting, “I am burnt, my body is burning, I am burning. Someone please help me.” But no one in that village helped Shitla Mata. A potter woman was sitting outside her house. The potter saw that the old lady is very burnt. Her whole body is burning. Her whole body is covered with blisters. She is not able to bear the heat.

Then the potter’s wife said, “O mother, come and sit here, I will pour cold water on your body.” The potter’s wife poured a lot of cold water on the old lady and said, “O mother, I have the rabri made last night and some curd too. You can eat the curd and rabri.” When the old lady ate the rabri and curd made of jowar flour, her body felt cool.

Then the potter said, “Come mother, sit down, your hair is scattered. Let me braid your hair.” The potter continued to comb the hair of the mother. Suddenly the potter’s eyes fell on the back of the old mother’s head and he saw that one of the mother’s eyes was hidden inside her hair. Seeing this, the potter’s wife got scared and started running away. But the old lady said, “Stop daughter, don’t be afraid. I am not a ghost. I am Sheetla Devi. I came to this earth to see who believes in me. Who worships me?” Saying this, Mother Chaturbhuja appeared in her true form, wearing diamond and jewel ornaments and a golden crown on her head.

After seeing the mother, the potter’s wife started thinking that where should I, a poor woman, make this mother sit now? Then the mother said:- O daughter, what are you thinking about? Then the potter’s wife said with folded hands and tears flowing from her eyes:- O mother, poverty is spread all around in my house. Where should I make you sit? I have neither a stool nor a seat in my house!
Then Shitala Mata became happy and sat on the donkey standing at the potter’s house and holding a broom in one hand and a basket in the other, swept away the poverty from the potter’s house, filled it in the basket and threw it away and said to the potter,O daughter, I am pleased with your true devotion. Now ask me for any boon you want.

The potter’s wife folded her hands and said, O Mother, I wish that you now settle down in this (Dungri) village and stay here and just as you removed the poverty from my house with your broom, similarly whoever worships you with devotion on the Saptami day after Holi and gives you cold water, Offer curd and stale cold food to her. Remove poverty from her house and keep the woman (woman) who worships you happy and always keep her lap full. Also, the man who does not get his hair cut by the barber on Sheetala Saptami, does not allow the washerman to wash his clothes, and also pours cold water on himself, offers coconut and flower, and eats cold stale food with his family, poverty would never come to his business.

Then the mother said, “Amen!”
“Daughter, I will grant you whatever boon you ask for. Daughter, I bless you that only the potter community will have the right to worship me on this earth.” From that day onwards Shitla Mata was established in Dungri village and the name of that village became Sheel Ki Dungri. Sheel Ki Dungri is the only main temple in India. A huge fair is held there on the day of Shitla Saptami. Whoever reads this story and narrates it to four people, along with the destruction of poverty in his house, all his wishes are fulfilled.