Sheetala

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The next day, Ava thought about what Amman had said to her and how the prayer book showed the name Sheetala. She raised the book that was still on the table and wondered if she was going crazy. Ava let out a big sigh and thought maybe a walk would do her some good. She closed the door and locked it wondering if something or someone would be waiting for her when she got back.

Ava's walk soothed her endless thoughts and she approached the door to her apartment. As she unlocked she held her breath wondering what will be waiting for her inside. She opened her door and was relieved to see no one there waiting for her. The book was exactly where she left it and there were no surprises to be found. Ava went to shower and got dressed. She stepped out her room to find a donkey straight in the middle of her living room. There was also a woman at its side.

Her eyes widened and she yelled.

" Oh! I am so sorry, dear!" The woman snapped her fingers and next thing you know there was a wooden donkey figure sitting in its place.

The woman continued, " I am sorry to startle you, child. You were told about my arrival weren't you? "

Ava nodded her head up and down. She did not know what to do. She still wondered if she was crazy or not.

" Let me formally introduce myself, child. I am Sheetala, goddess of contagion. I was told you are the witness for such a troubling time. "

The woman's voice trailed off with a sweetness and caring tone as she finished her sentence. Her eyes centered on the prayer book still on the table.

Ava still silent and unable to think of anything to say just stared at the woman. She had an odd sense of familiarity with her. This woman although different from her predecessor, still gave off the same presence.

The woman said with a smile, " Poor child, you must still be in shock. Come, let us sit and talk."

The woman took Ava's hand and led her to the kitchen table. Sitting on the table seemed to be a branch and a pot. Next to them was an unfamiliar broom leaning on the table. Ava sat down. The woman walked to the kitchen and to the cabinets as if it was her own home. She pulled out a cup and poured whatever liquid was in her pot into the cup. She handed it to Ava and sat down.

She reassured Ava, " Go ahead, this will calm your nerves. "

Ava, with great hesitation, lifted the cup and drank a bit. The taste was herbal but sweet. After one drink, Ava felt a cooling sensation down her throat that radiated to the rest of her body. She never felt such instant peace.

Ava finally found her words and said, " I do not understand. Why me? I am just so small. "

The woman smiled and said, " You know, you clearly have a bigger impact than you think."

Her eyes looked back to the prayer book again.

" Unfortunately my dear, I cannot stay for a very long time. I am afraid I am here to talk to you about my role in this and your role is to witness. As I have said before I am Sheetala. I am the form that controls fevers, strengthens blood cells, and I use my tools to help those afflicted by disease. These tools which you see along with my donkey are what I use to control the virulent diseases and I will use them to help against this pandemic. I often use my broom to sweep germs and collect them in my dustpan. My pot contains neem leaves and water from the holy kalash to cool fevers and heal the sickened. The branch you see there, it has neem leaves, which also help against the symptoms that affect the skin. My role today is to help control the spreading of this disease. "

The woman and Ava sat in silence for a moment. Ava felt as if the woman was just letting this information sink in.

Ava looked at the woman. " I just do not know what to say or what to do."

Sheetala cut Ava off before she could say anything more. " Ava, I have told you your role. Although it seems small to you, believing and helping others can be a great ripple that affects many."

In that instance Ava's television went off. It was the news channel and the words read: GLOBAL PANDEMIC NUMBERS DECREASING RAPIDLY

When Ava looked back to where the woman was sitting across from her, she found no one. What took her place was the wooden donkey figure and just as the woman before here she left it on top of the prayer book with a folded corner on a page. The page read Mariamman. Ava knew what that meant. Feeling overwhelmed again she took a big gulp from cup that Sheetala had given her and felt the peaceful sensation again. She picked up the figurine and caressed the smooth wooden texture as she set it down. She took the prayer book and picked up a pen. She sat back down on her table and started writing her first prayer on a blank sheet of the book.

Author's Note: Hi everyone. I hope everyone is doing well! As with my other stories, I developed this one as I wrote it. This story is based off of the goddess Sheetala which another moniker/ form of the goddess of contagion Amman. Something interesting about her is that she has been prayed for and still is to this day. One of the common prayers dedicated to her are for protection against smallpox! Her name also means “ one that cools” which makes sense since she protects against fevers. If you are interested in reading more about her, I have included links with the sources I used. Unfortunately, with increasing numbers in cases this pandemic has hit very close to home. My family had to be quarantined and luckily, we are all recovering nicely. This story also seemed very hard to write because a family friend recently passed because of COVID related complications. I can see now more than ever why so many people are praying to these goddesses of contagion and I hope that these prayers give fruit. This is certainly a chaotic time were in. Please take care, be kind to one another, love those close to you, and be grateful for anything and anyone you have.

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