Chhathi Maiya Puja 2024: The great festival of Chhath has begun and the atmosphere everywhere is filled with its spirit. In Chhath, along with worshiping the Sun God, there is also a tradition of worshiping Chhathi Maiya. But do you know who Chhathi Maiya is and the reason behind worshiping her during Chhath?

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Who is Chhathi Maiya?

In the local language, Goddess Shashthi is called Chhathi Maiya. She is known as the mind-born daughter of Sage Kashyap and Aditi and is also considered the sister of the Sun God. Another name for her is Devsena. Goddess Shashthi is believed to protect children. The challenging Chhath fast is observed to gain the blessings of the Sun God and to please Chhathi Maiya.

According to ancient legends, Goddess Shashthi is also described as the mind-born daughter of Brahma. Mythology states that when Brahma created the Earth and nature, Goddess Prakriti divided into six forms. The sixth form of these divisions is known as Chhathi Maiya. Worshiping her during Chhath Puja is said to bring her blessings, giving children happiness and health to the devotee.

Chhathi Maiya Katha

According to ancient legends, there was a king named Priyavrat who had everything but was saddened by the lack of children. To fulfill his desire to have a child, Sage Kashyap conducted a Putreshti Yajna. He gave the king and his wife the prepared kheer as an offering from the yajna. After consuming it, Queen Malini became pregnant and gave birth to a son.

However, the newborn was born lifeless, plunging the king into even deeper sorrow. When King Priyavrat took his child’s body to the cremation ground, prepared to sacrifice his own life as well, a goddess suddenly appeared before him.

The goddess introduced herself, saying, “I am Devsena, the mind-born daughter of Brahma. As I have emerged from the sixth part of nature, I am called Devi Shashthi”. The goddess advised the king to worship her and encourage others to do the same, promising him a healthy son in return.

The king then observed a fast and worshiped Devi Shashthi, after which he was blessed with a beautiful and healthy son. This is said to be the origin of the Chhath Puja tradition.