Devi Sasthi
Every question on the site tagged Devi Sasthi, each answered from a timestamped source rather than a summary written from memory.
Notes from our sources
Who is Devi Sasthi, and what is her role in protecting children?
Devi Sasthi is the sixth manifestation of Mula Prakriti, associated with Devasena, the Krittikas, and Mother Katyayani — the presiding deity for progeny, lineage expansion, and protecting children from conception through age 12.
Who guards a child at the time of pregnancy?
Whenever the time of pregnancy comes, the speaker says — as he has told in an earlier live too — there is first Bhagavati Shashthi, who is Dev Sena; and for the protection of the child it is Bal Bhairav and Batuk Bhairav who go with her, the swiftest of all. Bal Bhairav eight, Batuk Bhairav sixteen: in this way they go, and they guard. It is simply not possible, he says, that anything of this kind has happened on account of a kavach path — take this thing out of your heart and out of your mind. There is no mistake.
Is Surya upasana prescribed for obtaining children?
If a son or grandson is not being obtained, or an obstruction arises in obtaining progeny, whether from a medical issue or any other, Surya Narayan is capable of granting it too. Bhagavati Katyayani, Bhagavati Shashthi, Usha and Pratyusha remain with Bhagavan Surya Narayan, and it is by their grace that whatever creatures in this world obtain progeny do so; it is said that they give protection up to the age of twelve years.
What must be observed most carefully in Surya-related worship?
In the pujan of Bhagavan Surya, of Bhagavati Shashthi, of Bhagavati Baglamukhi, Bhagavati Kushmanda and Bhagavati Katyayani — the shaktis connected with the Surya loka — the speaker says one has to take very great care of suchita, of cleanliness. Suchita matters in any dev process, but here especially, because Surya Narayan is a pratyaksha deva and gives fruit very quickly.
Is arghya ever given to the setting sun?
Asked whether arghya is also given to the setting sun, the speaker says it is at the Shashthi of the Shukla Paksha of Kartik month — the Surya Shashthi we celebrate, in which the pujan of Bhagavati Chhathi Maiya takes place — that alone is arghya given to the setting sun.
Who is the Shashthi Devi, and what is her authority?
The Katyayani or Shashthi Devi form of Bhagavati Vindhyavasini — in the whole world hers alone is this form. She gives a son, protects him, makes the child long-lived, and after placing the seed in the womb holds the authority to protect it to at least the age of twelve.
What should be done from the Shashthi for a child?
Going and worshipping there on the Shashthi is best of all. Otherwise, from the Shashthi tithi, have the Saptashati recited in Samput with Bhagavan Krishna's Santan Gopal mantra, with the Sankalpa made for a child and the increase of the line.
What if the full Saptashati Samput cannot be managed?
Then recite the eleventh chapter alone in Samput — learn the method of Samput and do it that way on the Shashthi tithi. Either begin from the Shashthi and do it daily over a long period, or else be sure to do it on every Shashthi tithi.
What is Krishna's Shashthi puja, and how is it done?
On the sixth day after the festival, perform Krishna's Shashthi worship — as a child born in a house has its Shashthi Samskar on the sixth day. Make five, six or twelve kinds of dishes as your means allow and offer them to Krishna with Bhagavati Yashoda; bathe him again, and give him new garments, a crown and earrings.
Are the Shashthi Devi and Chhathi Maiya the same?
Yes. Ganga Maiya is also called Chhathi Maiya; Usha, Surya's consort, is held to be her; the six Krittikas who are Kartikeya's mothers are held to be Shashthi Devi; and Devsena, Kartikeya's wife, is also called Chhathi Maiya. But principally it is the Mother dwelling on the Vindhya, worshipped as Shashthi Devi since the Vedic period.
What lies on the way to Nandaja parvat and Ashtabhuja?
On that road, he says, there are many other special tantratmak places whose description no ordinary person can give. Having darshan of those, one goes on to Nandaja parvat, which is very far and on foot leaves one in a certain state; from Nandaja one comes back to Ashtabhuja, then goes a little further by the Mukteshwar Mahadev road, and by way of Sitakund climbs up for darshan of Ashtabhuja Mai, then Bhairav Kund and Machhindra Kund.
Which pushtikarak shaktis keep their grace over a lineage?
In a kula, he says, the influence and blessing of certain shaktis always remains — all those shaktis that are pushtikarak. For example Bhagavati Devsena: if her grace is obtained, if the grace of Bhagavati Shashthi is obtained, then hardly ever will any trouble relating to the lineage come into the kula, and hardly will any suffering come to the children, so long as the parents do not knowingly commit some very great offence.
What is prescribed when a child is not being born?
When santan prapti does not happen, he says, the most fierce prayoga held for that purpose is that of Santan Gopal. Take that form as tantric, as pauranik, as shastrokta, as you wish; take its mantra with its vidhi vidhan and look at its full effect. Around Bhagavati Vindhyavasini and Ma Shashthi, he says, several good effects have been seen of a Chandi Path samputit with Santan Gopal.
Bhagavati Shashthi and Bhagavan Bhairav ji are left out of public discourse precisely where a deity has the greatest utility
This subject will not be discussed, he says; this will not be told. About Bhagavati Shashthi it will never be discussed. About Bhagavan Bhairav ji it will not be discussed. Wherever a deity has utility, wherever a form has greatness, on that there will be no discussion.
Surviving to see the face of the sixth day is itself the grace of Bhagavati Shashthi Parameshwari
The grace of Bhagavati Shashthi Parameshwari is upon you, he says, and that is why you are alive today and are listening. If her grace were not there, if you had done some wicked karma, you would not be able to see the face of the sixth day; you would be told beforehand to move on. As with the niyam of the sadosh vrat — in the Shri Mahapuran there is the account of Bhadrayu, he says, though he cannot recall the name correctly, in which his mother did not perform the vrat properly, and it is described how deaths followed in various ways.
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