shitalasheetladevihealth

Shitala Ashtakam

शीतलाष्टकम् in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 8× repetitions·🕐 Sheetala Ashtami (Basoda), Tuesdays, or during illness and fever·📜 Skanda Purana

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

The Shitala Ashtakam is the principal eight-verse hymn to Goddess Shitala, the cooling mother who protects against and cures fevers, pox, skin eruptions and epidemic diseases. Drawn from the Skanda Purana and traditionally spoken by Lord Shiva himself, it pictures her seated on a donkey, holding a broom, water-pot and winnowing fan. Devotees chant it for relief from fever and infectious illness and for the protection of the home, declaring her the very 'medicine of life'.

Origin & Story

Skanda Purana · Traditionally spoken by Lord Shiva (recorded by Sage Veda Vyasa) · Ancient / Puranic

In the Skanda Purana, Lord Shiva reveals the glory of Goddess Shitala, the cooling mother who governs fevers and pox-diseases. Where she is propitiated, epidemics are pacified; where she is neglected, eruptive fevers may spread. The Ashtakam is the hymn given for her worship, picturing her astride a donkey with a broom to sweep away disease, a kalasha of healing water and a winnowing fan to fan away heat. It became the central prayer of her cult across North and East India, sung especially on Sheetala Ashtami.

✦ As told in scripture

Tradition holds that during devastating outbreaks of smallpox, communities that took up the worship of Shitala and the recitation of this Ashtakam saw the epidemic recede. Many families relate that a feverish child grew calm and cool as the verses 'Shitale! Shitale!' were chanted at the bedside, the goddess answering her own name with the gift of healing.

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Complete Text with Meaning

Tap any line — or the ▶ button — to hear it recited

Verse 1

Vande-Aham Shitalam Devim Rasabhastham Digambaram Marjani-Kalashopetam Shurpalankrita-Mastakam

Meaning:I worship Goddess Shitala, seated upon a donkey, sky-clad, holding a broom and a water-pot, her head adorned with a winnowing fan.

Verse 2

Vande-Aham Shitalam Devim Sarva-Roga-Bhaya-Apaham Yam-Asadya Nivarteta Visphotaka-Bhayam Mahat

Meaning:I worship Goddess Shitala, remover of the fear of all diseases, by reaching whom the great terror of pox-fevers is dispelled.

Verse 3

Shitale Shitale Cheti Yo Bruyad-Daha-Piditah Visphotaka-Bhayam Ghoram Kshipram Tasya Pranashyati

Meaning:Whoever, tormented by burning fever, cries 'Shitale! Shitale!', for him the dreadful fear of pox is swiftly destroyed.

Verse 4

Yas-Tvam-Udaka-Madhye Tu Dhyatva Sampujayen-Narah Visphotaka-Bhayam Ghoram Grihe Tasya Na Jayate

Meaning:The person who meditates upon you standing in water and worships you — in his home the dreadful fear of pox never arises.

Verse 5

Shitale Jvara-Dagdhasya Puti-Gandha-Yutasya Cha Pranashta-Chakshushah Pumsas-Tvam-Ahur-Jivana-Aushadham

Meaning:O Shitala, for the one burnt with fever, foul-smelling, his eyesight lost — you alone are called the medicine of life.

Verse 6

Shitale Tanujan-Rogan-Nrinam Harasi Dustyajan Visphotaka-Vidirnanam Tvam-Eka-Amrita-Varshini

Meaning:O Shitala, you carry away the hard-to-bear diseases of the body of men; for those torn apart by pox, you alone are the shower of nectar.

Verse 7

Gala-Ganda-Graha Roga Ye Chanye Daruna Nrinam Tvad-Anudhyana-Matrena Shitale Yanti Sankshayam

Meaning:Goitre, seizures and other terrible diseases of men — by the mere meditation upon you, O Shitala, they go to destruction.

Verse 8

Na Mantro Nausadham Tasya Papa-Rogasya Vidyate Tvam-Ekam Shitale Dhatri Nanyam Pashyami Devatam

Meaning:For that grievous disease there is neither mantra nor medicine; O Shitala, you alone I see as the sustaining mother — I see no other deity.

Verse 9

Mrinala-Tantu-Sadrishim Nabhi-Hrin-Madhya-Samsthitam Yas-Tvam Sanchintayed-Devi Tasya Mrityur-Na Jayate

Meaning:O Goddess, whoever contemplates you, subtle as a lotus-fibre, seated in the centre of the navel and heart — to him death does not come.

Verse 10

Ashtakam Shitala-Devya Yo Narah Prapathet-Sada Visphotaka-Bhayam Ghoram Grihe Tasya Na Jayate

Meaning:The person who always recites this Ashtakam of Goddess Shitala — in his home the dreadful fear of pox never arises.

Word-by-Word Meaning

Click any word to hear its pronunciation

Vande-Aham🔊I bow / I worship

Shitalam Devim🔊Goddess Shitala (the cooling one)

Rasabhastham🔊Seated upon a donkey (her vahana)

Digambaram🔊Clad in the directions (sky-clad / unrobed)

Marjani🔊A broom (to sweep away disease)

Kalasha🔊A water-pot (of cooling water)

Shurpa🔊A winnowing fan, adorning her head

Sarva-Roga-Bhaya-Apaham🔊Remover of the fear of all diseases

Visphotaka🔊Pox / pustular disease (smallpox, chickenpox, eruptive fevers)

Bhayam Mahat🔊The great fear / terror

Daha-Piditah🔊One tormented by burning (fever heat)

Kshipram Pranashyati🔊Is swiftly destroyed

Udaka-Madhye🔊In the midst of water

Jivana-Aushadham🔊The medicine that is life itself

Amrita-Varshini🔊She who showers the nectar of immortality (healing)

Gala-Ganda🔊Goitre / swellings of the throat

Anudhyana-Matrena🔊By mere meditation (upon you)

Dhatri🔊The nurse / sustaining mother

Mrinala-Tantu-Sadrishim🔊Subtle like the fibre of a lotus-stalk

Mrityur-Na Jayate🔊Death does not come to him

Benefits of Chanting शीतलाष्टकम्

✦

Invokes Goddess Shitala for protection from and cure of fevers, pox and skin diseases

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Traditionally chanted during outbreaks of smallpox, chickenpox, measles and epidemic fevers

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Believed to keep the home free from the 'fear of pox' (visphotaka) when recited regularly

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Brings cooling relief to those burning with fever, as her very name means 'the cool one'

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Soothes restlessness, heat and irritation of body and mind

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Regular recitation, especially on Sheetala Ashtami, is held to grant lasting health and longevity

How to Chant शीतलाष्टकम्

Repetitions8times

Best TimeSheetala Ashtami (Basoda), Tuesdays, or during illness and fever

Bathe and chant facing the rising sun, ideally after worshipping Shitala Mata with cooled (basi) food, water and a lamp. The hymn is traditionally recited while standing in or near water. It may be chanted for a sick person, with the cool water offered before the goddess afterward given as prasada. Many recite the full eight verses with the concluding phala-shruti once daily during illness or every Tuesday for ongoing protection.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete शीतलाष्टकम् written in the English script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

Shitala Devi ('the cool one') is the Hindu goddess of healing, worshipped especially as the protector against and curer of fevers, smallpox, chickenpox, measles and other eruptive and epidemic diseases. She is depicted seated on a donkey, holding a broom, a pot of cooling water and a winnowing fan, and is regarded as a form of the Divine Mother.

It is chanted especially on Sheetala Ashtami (also called Basoda), on Tuesdays, and at any time when someone is suffering from fever or an infectious disease. It is also recited for the general protection and health of the household.

The hymn comes from the Skanda Purana and is traditionally said to have been spoken by Lord Shiva, who describes the form, powers and worship of Goddess Shitala. Its closing verse (phala-shruti) promises that regular recitation keeps the dreadful fear of pox away from one's home.

Because she is the goddess of coolness, she is offered basi (previous day's, cooled) food on Sheetala Ashtami, the day after which no fresh fire is lit for cooking. This 'Basoda' custom symbolises the cooling, calming nature the goddess bestows.