How To Worship Goddess Shashthi Devi In Hinduism

Comprehensive Guide to Worshipping Goddess Shashthi Devi in Hinduism

Goddess Shashthi Devi is revered as the protector of children and is closely associated with fertility and childbirth. Worshipping her is believed to ensure the well-being of children, protect against disease, and foster fertility in women. Here’s a detailed guide on how to perform a simple yet meaningful and eco-friendly worship (puja) of Goddess Shashthi Devi.

1. Importance of Worshipping Goddess Shashthi

Goddess Shashthi is considered the divine protector of children and women during childbirth. Worshipping her ensures:

Blessings for childbearing: Couples seeking children often worship her for blessings.
Health and safety of children: She is known to protect children from illnesses and evil spirits.
Happiness and prosperity: Worshiping Shashthi Devi is believed to bring happiness, harmony, and prosperity to the family.

2. Cleanliness and Purity

Cleanliness plays a crucial role in Hindu puja rituals. Follow these guidelines:

Bathe: The person performing the puja should take a bath and wear clean clothes.
Puja Area: The area where the puja will be performed should be cleaned thoroughly, with a mat or clean cloth spread on the ground.
Eco-friendly Setup: Use biodegradable items like banana leaves, clay idols, and organic flowers to respect nature.

3. Best Time for Worship

The ideal time to worship Goddess Shashthi Devi is:

Shashthi Tithi: Worship is typically performed on the sixth day of both the waxing (Shukla Paksha) and waning (Krishna Paksha) phases of the lunar month.
Morning Hours: Conduct the puja in the morning after sunrise, which is considered auspicious.

4. Colors to Wear During Puja

Yellow or White Clothes: Yellow and white are considered auspicious colors for worshipping Goddess Shashthi. They represent purity, simplicity, and devotion.
Avoid Dark Colors: Dark colors like black and red should be avoided as they are not typically associated with this goddess.

5. Eco-Friendly Puja Items Required

Use traditional and eco-friendly items that are biodegradable or reusable. The following items are essential:

Clay or Eco-friendly Idol of Shashthi Devi: Avoid plastic or non-biodegradable materials.
Fresh Flowers: Marigold, jasmine, or lotus are ideal. Make sure they are not dyed.
Fruits: Offer seasonal and organic fruits like bananas, pomegranates, and mangoes.
Durva Grass (Green Grass): This is considered sacred.
Cow Dung Cakes: Used for lighting traditional fire (havan) during puja.
Panchamrit: A mixture of milk, yogurt, honey, sugar, and ghee.
Diya (Oil Lamp): Made of clay with sesame oil or ghee.
Incense Sticks: Choose eco-friendly incense sticks without synthetic chemicals.
Holy Water (Ganga Jal): Use water from a natural source, or filtered water if unavailable.
Betel Leaves & Nuts: Commonly used for offerings.
Rice, Turmeric, and Kumkum (Vermillion): For marking auspicious symbols.

6. Simple Steps of Puja

Here’s a step-by-step guide to performing Shashthi Devi Puja:

Prepare the Puja Area: Clean the area and set up the idol or picture of Shashthi Devi. Spread a clean mat and keep all the puja items nearby.
Lighting the Diya and Incense Sticks: Start by lighting the diya and incense sticks to purify the atmosphere.
Offering Water: Offer clean water (or Ganga Jal) to the goddess by sprinkling it around the idol.
Offering Panchamrit: Offer the mixture of milk, curd, honey, sugar, and ghee.
Offering Flowers and Grass: Place fresh flowers and durva grass at the feet of the goddess.
Prayers and Mantras: Recite simple mantras to invoke the goddess. A common mantra is:
- Shashthi Mata Mantra:
  “ॐ शाश्ठी देवायै नमः”
  “Om Shashthi Devyai Namah”
Offering Fruits and Prasad: Offer fruits and prasad (discussed below).
Aarti: Perform a simple aarti with a diya and sing a devotional song dedicated to Shashthi Devi.
Concluding the Puja: Conclude by bowing down to the goddess and asking for her blessings on the children, family, and the home.

7. Prasad (Offerings) to be Prepared

Prepare simple, homemade prasad using natural ingredients:

Rice-based Dishes: You can make kheer (rice pudding) or plain boiled rice with ghee.
Sweet Offerings: Offer homemade laddus, modaks, or other simple sweets made from jaggery and sesame seeds.
Fruits: Offer organic, seasonal fruits that are easy to procure.

8. Mantras and Prayers

Apart from the Om Shashthi Devyai Namah mantra, you can also recite the following prayers:

General Prayer:
“Shashthi Devi, we bow before you. Please bless our children with good health, intelligence, and happiness. Protect them from all harm.”
Sanskrit Mantra:
“ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं शाश्ठी देवायै नमः।”
“Om Aim Hreem Kleem Shashthi Devyai Namah.”

Recite these mantras with faith and devotion for blessings.

9. Concluding the Puja

After performing the aarti and offering prasad, thank Goddess Shashthi for her blessings.
Sit in quiet meditation for a few minutes, focusing on the well-being of children and family.
Offer a final prayer for peace, health, and prosperity in your home.

10. What to Do with Puja Leftover Items

To maintain an eco-friendly approach, dispose of puja items responsibly:

Flowers and Durva Grass: Compost these items instead of throwing them in rivers or lakes.
Prasad: Distribute the prasad among family members and neighbors.
Water Offerings (Panchamrit): Either consume the Panchamrit or sprinkle it in your garden or plants as a form of blessing.
Diya and Incense: Extinguish the diya after the puja is complete, and use the ashes of incense sticks for plants.

11. Eco-Friendly Practices in Worship

Avoid synthetic materials like plastic, and instead use natural items such as clay, wood, or biodegradable substances.
Keep waste to a minimum by reusing certain items like brass or copper utensils.
Ensure that any food offered to the goddess is fresh, organic, and prepared at home without preservatives.

Worshiping Goddess Shashthi is a simple yet highly rewarding ritual in Hinduism. By maintaining eco-friendly practices, we ensure that our devotion respects both nature and the environment. Regular worship of Shashthi Devi helps protect children, blesses families with fertility, and brings health and prosperity to the home.

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