Shashthi Devi

Hindu Goddess of fertility, conception, pregnancy and child birth.

Shashthi Devi ✨ Hindu deity known as the goddess of flora and vegetation, reproduction, fertility, conception, childbirth and infant welfare. She forms protection around those who invoke her energy.

Known as Sashti (six) because she is one-sixth of Prakruti - absolute consciousness/nature.

Manifest of Durga in the form of fearless protector and avatar of Divine Shakti feminine essence, Shashthi culminates as the Mother goddess, a divine teacher who guides the path of incarnating souls and releases them safely in bodily form on Earth. She is universal love, fertility, woman.. MOTHER. Women desiring to conceive and mothers seeking to ensure the health of their children will worship Shashthi and request her blessings and aid.

Interestingly, there are hardly-to-no images of this mystical deity. All but two visual representations have been found in Vedic texts. Originally vilified and feared, she is now widely recognised favourably and seen as a guardian angel for children, still worshipped in modern times today.

Shashti is honoured in ritual when planning for conception, when pregnant and most importantly on the sixth day after a baby’s birth to prevent illness and bestow health and success.

Also celebrated on the 6th day of shukla paksha (waxing lunation) and 6th day of Krishna paksha (waning lunation), monthly shasththi tithi rituals are observed for fertility of the land and fertility of the self, during each phase of the moon.

Described as having a golden hue, adorned with jewels, holding children and wearing a prominent bejeweled crown, her vahana (vehicle) is her black cat ~ her connection to the divine. Shashthi is also worshipped in symbolisms such as an earthen pot, red stone under fig trees (banyan) or millstone used to grind spices. Offerings to Shashthi include blue hued flowers, strewn rice, coconut husk or lighting an earthen lamp and placing in front of her picture. Chant, sing, hymn “Om Sashthyai Devayai Swaha, Om Sree Shashthi Deviye Namah”.

with love,

KRISTY x