THE STORY OF BHAGWATI SHASHTI DEVI AND WHY WE CELEBRATE 6TH DAY(छठी) CEREMONY OF A NEW BORN BABY

People often have wondered why the sixth day after a child is born, every sanatani organises a devi puja popularly called as chhathi puja.

Devi Puran mentions the importance of this puja for the safety of the child.

Actually Chhathi mata or Shashti mata is the one sixth part of Jagdambika Bhagwati. She is the known as the devi who is responsible for all the aspects of birth of the child right from its birth

to its growth. She is Kartikeya's wife Dev Sena popularly known as Shashti devi. The story about her importance in a child's birth, growth and safety is mentioned below as narrated by Shri Hari to Narad.

Brahma's son was Manu. He was entrusted with the responsibility for creating, increasing and inhabiting the earth with people. Manu carried on this task. His son Priyavrat was reluctant to marry as he was more of a pious person. So Brahma had to convince him to get married.

He was married to Malini.

He was worried as he remained childless. So Rishi Kashyap gave some Yagya charu to be consumed for this purpose.

Malini was pregnant for twelve years after which she delivered a beautiful child, but it was a dead child.

Priyavrat took the child to Shamshaan for the last rites. There he cried his heart out with the dead child in his arms.

Then he notices a crystal shiny and glowing object in front. He realises that it is a divine Vimaan and a devi sitting in it.

Although he does not recognise the devi but he realises her divine demeanor. He pays his respects and wants to know more about this devi. She tells him that she is Shashti, the one sixth part or ansh of Bhagwati.

She tells him whoever invokes her on the sixth day after the child's birth will be granted her blessings for the welfare of the child. Actually one is responsible for his own Karma. Whatever karma one does is reflected in one's life.

His sufferings & happiness are all karma based. As she was narrating all this she carries the child in her arms. The child is alive now. After finishing her narrative she tries to take the child along with her to swarg. But the distraught father requests her to return his child.

She returns the child on the condition that he would see that people should start worshipping the Shashti mata as she will definitely look after the well-being and security of the child. Priyavrat gives his word for the same. The devi leaves without the child.

On returning back, the joyous people of his kingdom rejoice with happiness. He performs the Shashti pujan at his palace and also see's that wherever a child is born the sixth day puja would be essential. His Kingdom flourished not only with wealth but happiness.

So always perform the Shashti puja together with all the traditional rituals and keep doing the jaap of ॐ हृं षष्ठी देवैये स्वाहा॥

Source - Devi Puran

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