Who Chhathi Maiya is
Chhath is offered to two deities at once: Surya, the Sun, who receives the arghya at sunset and sunrise, and Chhathi Maiya, the mother goddess of the Shashthi (sixth day). In Puranic tradition she is Shashthi Devi, also called Devasena: a principal portion of Prakriti, the primordial Mother, and "the sixth part" of her — hence the name Shashthi. She is the foremost of the Matrikas, the protector of children and the giver of long life to them, and the consort of Skanda (Kartikeya). That is why Chhath, like the Shashthi worship after a child's birth, is above all a prayer for children and family.
The katha: King Priyavrat and Shashthi Devi
This is the story usually read during the Chhath vrat. It is told in the Puranas as the account of how Shashthi Devi's worship began on earth.
Priyavrat, son of Svayambhuva Manu, the first Manu, had no children, and he and his queen (named Malini in popular tellings) grieved deeply. The king told his sorrow to Maharshi Kashyapa and asked for a way to have a son. The sage advised a putreshti yajna, the sacrifice for a son; popular tellings add that the kheer offered in the yajna was given to the queen to eat.
The queen conceived — but the child was born dead. Grief spread through the whole city. The king held the lifeless body to his chest and wept.
Then something wonderful happened. Everyone saw a celestial chariot (vimana) descending from the sky, and in it sat a radiant divine woman. When the king praised her, she said: "I am Shashthi Devi, the mind-born daughter of Brahma. I protect all the children of the world, and I give sons to those who have none." She touched the dead infant's body, and the child came to life.
The king's joy knew no bounds. He praised Shashthi Devi in many ways, and — as she had asked, that he worship her and lead others to do the same — he proclaimed that her festival be celebrated throughout his kingdom on the Shashthi of the bright fortnight. From then on, the katha concludes, Shashthi worship spread for the welfare of families and at a child's birth, naming and first feeding — and in Kartik it became the great Chhath of the Sun and Chhathi Maiya.
Other traditions told at Chhath
Alongside the Priyavrat katha, several popular traditions link Chhath to the epics. They are widely told in Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh, though the epics themselves do not describe a "Chhath" festival:
- Karna: the son of Surya, who in the Mahabharata worshipped the Sun every day standing in water. Folk tradition sees him as the first to offer arghya standing waist-deep in water, as Chhath vratis do.
- Draupadi: when the Pandavas had lost their kingdom, Draupadi is said to have kept the Chhath vrat, after which their fortunes turned.
- Sita and Ram: after returning to Ayodhya, Sita and Ram are said to have kept the Surya Shashthi fast on Kartik Shukla Shashthi; at Munger in Bihar, tradition points to a place where Sita performed it.
How the katha is used
- It is heard or read by the vratis, usually on the evening of Kharna or before the Sandhya Arghya.
- Women pray to Chhathi Maiya for the long life and health of their children, and couples hoping for a child keep the vrat after the example of Priyavrat.
- The Sun is worshipped in the same rite — see Surya Arghya and the Chhath Puja 2026 page for the four days.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Chhathi Maiya?
Shashthi Devi, also called Devasena — in Puranic tradition a principal portion of Prakriti, the protector of children and the consort of Kartikeya. She is worshipped with Surya in Chhath.
What is the main Chhath vrat katha?
The story of King Priyavrat, whose stillborn son was revived by Shashthi Devi; the king then established her worship on the Shukla Shashthi.
Who was King Priyavrat?
The son of Svayambhuva Manu, the first Manu. Some popular tellings call him Priyamvad and name his queen Malini.
When should the Chhath katha be read?
During the four days of Chhath, most often on the evening of Kharna or before the Sandhya Arghya on Shashthi.
Why are both Surya and Chhathi Maiya worshipped?
Chhath falls on Kartik Shukla Shashthi, the day of Shashthi Devi, and centres on arghya to the Sun; over time the two worships became one festival.
Did Karna start Chhath?
That is a popular tradition. The Mahabharata describes Karna's daily sun worship standing in water, which Chhath vratis echo, but it does not describe the Chhath festival itself.
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