Superstitions and superstitious practices are very common in India. These beliefs have exist for centuries In India, there are many such beliefs for which there’s no reason. Even some diseases are associate with superstitions, and one of them is chickenpox.
In India, particularly in rural areas, chickenpox is refer to as ‘Mata’ but very few people know the reason behind it.
What is Chickenpox?
Chickenpox is an infectious disease that occurs due to the varicella-zoster virus. A person suffering from it develops red colour rashes on their entire body.
This disease spreads quickly from one person to another.
If a person comes in direct contact with someone suffering from chickenpox, they may also end up getting it.
The disease usually happens among children and adolescents and increases due to the lack of cleanliness.
Why Chickenpox is Call as ‘Mata’?
Now if chickenpox spreads like a virus, why is it call as mata?
Chickenpox is associate with Shitala Mata.
Shitala Mata is consider a form of Durga Mata, and she is known as Goddess who cures diseases.
Shitala Mata has a broom in one hand and holy water in another.
With the broom, she punishes humans by giving them diseases and then takes away the diseases with holy water.
As per the shastra, there use to be an asur name as Jowarasura.
Jowarasura use to kill children by giving them high fevers.
It was then that Mata Katyayani took the form of Shitala Mata and enter the children’s bodies.
As soon as Shitala Mata enter, rashes appear on the body and she cure the children from inside.
Since then, it is believe that during chickenpox, mata enters the body and cures the human from inside.
THANK YOU FOR READING.
