Page:Hindu Mythology, Vedic and Purānic.djvu/516



Sastī is peculiarly the goddess of married women ; she is the giver of children, assists at childbirth, and is the guardian of young children. She is represented as a golden-complexioned woman with a child in her arms, riding upon a cat ; hence no Hindu woman would

under any circumstances injure that animal, lest she should offend the goddess and be made to suffer for it. Six times a year festivals in honour of Sastī are held ; in addition to which, women who have lost their children by death worship her monthly. When a child is six days old, the father worships her; and when three weeks old, the mother presents offerings to her. The