Tracing different and varied histories, female deities have been a source of celebration and reverence in multifarious cultures. They stand for wealth, health, prosperity, and auspiciousness. These deities are seminal to cultures because they represent the different Shakti factions of the cosmos and remind the world of the importance of women in framing, forecasting, and foreboding the design of the world.
A unique facet of worshipping female deities is the fact that most people do it to showcase their particular veneration towards female figures who stand for ‘strength in femininity’ and this stems from worshipping various forms of the ‘one for all’ female goddess DEVI, who rules the world and in angry, sad, happy, fertile and isolated in various forms. The term Shakti refers to multiple ideas. Its most legitimate definition is the dynamic energy responsible for the universe’s creation, maintenance, and destruction. It is identified with female energy because Shakti is responsible for creation, as mothers are responsible for birth. Without Shakti, nothing in this universe would happen; she stimulates shiva, which is passive energy in the form of consciousness, to create. Ardhanarishvara, a Hindu deity half male and half female, is the most apt translation of this idea. The deity is half male and female, depicting that the cosmic universe’s creation, maintenance, and destruction depend on both forces.
Amidst all this flurry that categorizes goddesses, one special goddess celebrates the very idea and existence of womanhood, Maa shashthi of the diverse Bengali culture. Maa Shashthi is a lesser-known Hindu folk Goddess – but she remains a guardian angel for many households in Bengal. She is considered an avatar of Durga and is held in high esteem by women. The worship of Goddess Shashthi is a celebration of ‘Matri Shakti,’ or the power of womanhood and motherhood. ‘Shashthi’ means numeral six, this Goddess is worshipped every sixth day of the lunar calendar.
The vehicle of Goddess Shashthi is a black cat. The black cat, no matter how glossy and beautiful, is deemed an inauspicious omen across India and this superstitious belief is still prevalent in Bengal. The Shashthi Panchali that narrates the story of the Goddess transports us back to a village, many years ago, where a couple lived with their sons and daughters-in-law. Every time during puja, the youngest daughter-in-law would steal the fruits and blame it on the black cat. The prayers of the mother-in-law came true and soon the youngest daughter-in-law was expecting her first child. She gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. As the mother and child lay sleeping that night, the black cat stole the boy. The mother woke up to find her child gone. She spent her days in misery and after a year gave birth to another child. The cat stole even the second child. Next year, when she had another baby, the cat stole it again. After delivering seven sons in succession, the helpless woman decided to end her life.
Goddess Shashthi appeared to her and told her that it was a punishment for lying about her black cat. She returned all her children to the poor woman. Most women, no matter how much they dislike cats, will think twice before refusing food to them or daring to mess with a cat. Very few lack the guts to tread the path a cat has taken. Such is the fear of black cats in Bengal, and now I hope the audience is well versed with the century-old myth of the black cat and has equal veneration for Maa Shashthi.
The worship of this Mother Goddess – Shashthi Puja has a different name every month and serves a different purpose. ‘Shashthi’ is also derived from the word “shaat,” signifying blessings. All mothers keep a fast and pray to this deity for the well-being of their children. Interestingly, there are no images of the folk deity. She is usually represented by symbols such as the “ghat” or earthen pot, a stone under a sacred fig or “peepal” tree, or the millstone that is used to grind spices, being a folk deity, she is very popular with the local folk. Some villages have figurines in stone, depicting a very rough feminine form. To date, only two images of Mother Shashthi, dating back to the 12th century AD, have been found in erstwhile Bihar. Both show her as a goddess with a child on her lap mounted on a black cat looking up at her, having its significance.
Known as the Goddess of fertility, procreation, and protector of children, she is much feared and loved by all, a character distinct to only females. Adoration of the Goddess Shashthi starts with a woman getting married. Daily worship ensures that the woman remains fertile and bears as many children as possible. In the olden days, maternal and infant mortality was very high. Few women survived a successful delivery and few infants lived past the sixth-day milestone, so it was deemed important to worship shashthi. Every Bengali married woman prayed for divine intervention. The first five days of an infant’s life were considered the most crucial. On the sixth day, the new mother and her child were made to sit before the Goddess and offer their gratitude to the deity. This sixth-day worship is still considered mandatory in most households and termed ‘shuddhikaran’ or purification.
Author’s note-
Guncha Shandilya
Guncha is a 19-year-old History student with a ceaseless love for ancient architecture, International relations, and Japanese literature. Through research and writing, she wishes to share her interests with students of her age and aims to be a diplomat in the future. Being a voiceover intern at ILF, she is enjoying giving voice to our golden heritage and is on a constant quest for such inspiration and projects! She is also a climate advocate and has worked with several international organizations in this regard. Writing is her survival sauce!
