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Shashthi Devi – Hindu Goddess Sashti

Goddess Shashthi is a female deity propitiated for the wellbeing of the new born baby and the mother. This Hindu goddess is worshipped on the sixth day and therefore she is known as Sashti Devi or Goddess Shasti. The popular belief is that this Goddess injures new born infants and mothers on sixth day after their mother.

Sasti is the Hindu name for the sixth day of a lunar fortnight.

Goddess Sashti is propitiated on the sixth day by devotees especially by mothers of new born babies and her friends, neighbors and relatives. The offerings made in each region vary.

In some regions, she is worshipped only on the sixth day of the Shukla Paksha of Jyeshta month.

Science has discovered that infants and their mothers catch certain types of diseases on the sixth day after birth. Some scholars are of the view that this is the reason for the origin of the dreaded Goddess Sashti.

Please note that in South India, Sashti fasting is dedicated to Lord Muruga or Kartikeya, the son of Shiva and Parvati. This is observed in all months – the sixth day during waxing phase of moon.