Fabrizio M. Ferrari is Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Chester, UK.

• AcknowledgementsList of illustrations Note on transliterationAbbreviations Months in north India IntroductionChapter 1: Sitala, the Cold Mother Chapter 2: Visions of the goddess. The iconography of Sitala Chapter 3: Hosting Ma, feeding Ma. Controversies around SitalapujaChapter 4: The smallpox myth and the creation of the goddess of smallpox Chapter 5: The legacy of SitalaConcluding reflectionsAppendix A. Srisitalasaptamivratakatha (Srisriyantrapi?ham, Vara?asi)Appendix B. Srisitalasaptamivrata of Skandapura?aAppendix C. Sitalasaptamivratakatha of Bhavi?yapura?aAppendix D. Sitalapujapaddhati of PicchilatantraBibliography Index

In Religion, Devotion and Medicine in North India the author analyses an extensive range of Indian textual and iconographic sources dating back over a millennium and convincingly demolishes the myth that the deity Sitala is a malevolent village "smallpox goddess". After this fascinating study scholarship must henceforth recognise Sitala as a benevolent goddess whose compassion is invoked, primarily by female worshipers, for the protection of children.

Fabrizio M. Ferrari is Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Chester, UK.

• AcknowledgementsList of illustrations Note on transliterationAbbreviations Months in north India IntroductionChapter 1: Sitala, the Cold Mother Chapter 2: Visions of the goddess. The iconography of Sitala Chapter 3: Hosting Ma, feeding Ma. Controversies around SitalapujaChapter 4: The smallpox myth and the creation of the goddess of smallpox Chapter 5: The legacy of SitalaConcluding reflectionsAppendix A. Srisitalasaptamivratakatha (Srisriyantrapi?ham, Vara?asi)Appendix B. Srisitalasaptamivrata of Skandapura?aAppendix C. Sitalasaptamivratakatha of Bhavi?yapura?aAppendix D. Sitalapujapaddhati of PicchilatantraBibliography Index

In Religion, Devotion and Medicine in North India the author analyses an extensive range of Indian textual and iconographic sources dating back over a millennium and convincingly demolishes the myth that the deity Sitala is a malevolent village "smallpox goddess". After this fascinating study scholarship must henceforth recognise Sitala as a benevolent goddess whose compassion is invoked, primarily by female worshipers, for the protection of children.

Fabrizio M. Ferrari is Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Chester, UK.

• AcknowledgementsList of illustrations Note on transliterationAbbreviations Months in north India IntroductionChapter 1: Sitala, the Cold Mother Chapter 2: Visions of the goddess. The iconography of Sitala Chapter 3: Hosting Ma, feeding Ma. Controversies around SitalapujaChapter 4: The smallpox myth and the creation of the goddess of smallpox Chapter 5: The legacy of SitalaConcluding reflectionsAppendix A. Srisitalasaptamivratakatha (Srisriyantrapi?ham, Vara?asi)Appendix B. Srisitalasaptamivrata of Skandapura?aAppendix C. Sitalasaptamivratakatha of Bhavi?yapura?aAppendix D. Sitalapujapaddhati of PicchilatantraBibliography Index

In Religion, Devotion and Medicine in North India the author analyses an extensive range of Indian textual and iconographic sources dating back over a millennium and convincingly demolishes the myth that the deity Sitala is a malevolent village "smallpox goddess". After this fascinating study scholarship must henceforth recognise Sitala as a benevolent goddess whose compassion is invoked, primarily by female worshipers, for the protection of children.