Note 29 — Chapter III · DISEASE DEITIES.

To secure the protection of Shitalā Mātā for their children, women annually observe the vow of shili sātem on the 7th day of the dark half of Shrāvan. On this day the Mātā is said to visit every house and to roll herself on the hearth. No fire is, therefore, lighted in the hearth on this day: for if the Mātā comes and is scorched by the fire she is sure to bring misfortune on that household. For this reason, a number of dainties and all the food necessary for the day is prepared on the previous day. On the day of shili sātem, juvāri seeds are spread on the hearth, and after being sprinkled with red lac, a cowdung bowl containing a plant called vaṇa is placed upon them. The women of the house bathe with cold water and take only one meal during the day. They further abstain from sewing and embroidering during that day. Sometimes a Brāhman is engaged to recite the Shitalā shloka from a book called Rudrayāmal.29