By Pranay Lal
With the government largely absent from the pandemic scene, suffering masses are returning to temples to discover solace. In Dausa, Rajasthan, a 17th century temple committed to Sitala mata (from Hindi, the cool mother, or one who cools the hot pox boils that surface on the skin), goddess of succour against smallpox and illness, has hopeful devotees arrive in the wee hours to pray for their loved ones. Nestled amongst glitzy glass buildings in Keshopur village in Gurugram, is a temple committed to the wife of Guru Dronacharya, Kripi (or Kirpai, one who bestows her kripa or mercy) who was later transmogrified into Sitala.
This late 18th century temple was provided a modern day facade with amenities when the state government took more than its management in 1991 and formed a board just as it was accomplished for other large temple complexes. Here as well persons arrive with hope to discover comfort. The revival of prayer for Sitala mata in temples and Youtube videos which invoke the goddess is a stark reminder that persons are turning to gods and goddesses to alleviate their suffering.
Human history is rife with episodes of illnesses like smallpox which triggered collapse of trade, weakened strong armies and spiralled empires into decline. In the absence of any protection, gods and goddesses became the only hope for the masses. Sitala was worshipped in the area that lies amongst the Hindukush and the river Godavari. South of the Godavari the ruling deity was Mari-amma, goddess of wealth who was invoked through Dasara to shower prosperity. It was only later, about the mid 17th century that she also started to be worshipped for offering relief against epidemics like smallpox. Temples committed to her and her consorts are resplendent.
In contrast, Sitala shrines are modest and are usually element of the bigger temple complicated, sharing space with other gods and deities. Both Sitala and Mari-amma travelled with indentured labour in the early 19th to 20th century and significant temples committed to them are identified from Fiji in the east to Guyana in the west. Before the legend of Sitala emerged, persons worshipped Hariti, the Buddhist-Hindu protector of children who, when angered. triggered fevers. There was also the goddess Jyestha who was appeased to reverse terrible omens which includes outbreaks of smallpox. Every village in the Indian subcontinent has its regional deities and incarnates who safeguard against illnesses.
Before the practice of vaccination was brought into India by the British, it is mentioned that in specific components of India, some Brahmins and pir-babas would use smallpox exudate (referred to as variolation) to confer protection. Edward Jenner who, in the late 1790s, showed that a jab from cowpox could safeguard against smallpox advocated for a wider dissemination of the vaccine in British India, and ultimately the initially Indian got vaccinated in 1802. On April 23, 1977, soon after decades of efforts to vaccinate each Indian, the nation was declared cost-free of smallpox, and in 1981, the WHO certified that the world was eradicated of smallpox. Smallpox remains the only human illness to be eradicated since of a superior steady vaccine. With the finish of this scourge, the worship of these devis waned.
Forty years soon after we eradicated smallpox, we are staring at a ‘primitive moment’ in history. A new virus has exposed our frailties, our more than dependence on shallow technologies rather than obtaining ideal the fundamentals of equitable access to clean water and air and meals for all. In the international context, we have failed as a nation to respond collectively to the virus with robust science, frequent sense and solidarity. The streams of desperate persons in temples is an proof of this. Quite like the old occasions.
(The author is a public wellness advocate and the author of Indica. His second book, Invisible Empire: The Natural History of Viruses (Penguin) will be released in August 2021. Views expressed are individual and do not reflect the official position or policy of the TheSpuzz Online.)