Who Is Chhathi Maiya? The Goddess Behind Chhath Puja and Her Surprising Connection With Surya Dev

Who Is Chhathi Maiya? The Goddess Worshipped Alongside Surya Dev

Chhathi Maiya is a revered mother goddess associated with Chhath Puja, particularly in Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh. She is worshipped for the well-being of children, family prosperity, fertility and protection.

But unlike many widely recognised Hindu deities whose identities are associated with established mythological narratives, Chhathi Maiya has several overlapping identities in regional religious traditions.

In popular belief, she is often described as the sister of Surya Dev, the Sun God. Some traditions associate her with Shashthi Devi, the goddess believed to protect children, while other interpretations identify her with Devasena, a divine figure associated with Lord Kartikeya.


These identities are not necessarily treated as separate by devotees. Instead, they form part of the different stories through which communities understand and worship Chhathi Maiya.

Her name itself offers an important clue. Chhathi is associated with Shashthi, meaning the sixth lunar day, while Maiya is an affectionate term for mother. This connects her identity with the sixth-day observance that gives Chhath its name.

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Is Chhathi Maiya the Sister of Surya Dev?

One of the most widely repeated beliefs in Bihar and neighbouring regions is that Chhathi Maiya is the sister of Surya Dev.

This relationship explains why devotees worship both the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya during Chhath. While Surya represents the visible source of light, energy and life, Chhathi Maiya is invoked as a protective maternal presence who blesses families and children.

However, the identification of Chhathi Maiya as Surya's sister belongs primarily to popular and regional devotional traditions. Different accounts describe her divine relationships differently, including associations with Surya as his consort.

This distinction matters because there is no single universally accepted account of her identity across all Hindu traditions. Her worship has evolved through regional folklore, devotional songs and local interpretations of mythology.

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The Story of Devasena: Why Is Chhathi Maiya Worshipped for Children's Protection?

One of the important mythological narratives associated with Chhathi Maiya connects her with Shashthi Devi, also known as Devasena.

According to a popular account associated with the Brahmavaivarta Purana, King Priyavrat and his wife, Queen Malini, were unable to have a child. They performed a Putrakameshti Yajna, a ritual seeking the blessing of a child.

The queen eventually became pregnant and gave birth to a child. However, the baby was stillborn, leaving the royal couple devastated.

In the story, when the grieving queen approached a river, she encountered a divine woman who introduced herself as Devasena or Shashthi. The goddess told her to worship her along with the Sun God and seek blessings for children.

Queen Malini followed her instructions and was eventually blessed with a child.

This narrative is important because it connects Shashthi Devi with childbirth, fertility and the protection of young children. It also helps explain why Chhathi Maiya is invoked by devotees seeking the health and longevity of their children.

Although this is one of the prominent stories associated with her worship, regional versions and interpretations vary.

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Is Chhathi Maiya the Same as Shashthi Devi and Devasena?

The names Shashthi Devi and Devasena frequently appear in discussions about Chhathi Maiya, but understanding their connection requires looking at different strands of Hindu mythology.

Shashthi Devi is traditionally associated with the protection of children, childbirth and fertility. She is also linked with the sixth day of the lunar calendar.

Devasena is described in Puranic traditions as the wife of Lord Kartikeya, the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Some accounts identify Devasena with Shashthi.

Chhathi Maiya is associated with these figures through regional interpretations and devotional traditions.

The important distinction is that these names and identities do not have exactly the same role in every religious account. Their association with Chhathi Maiya reflects how local worship traditions have brought together different mythological ideas around motherhood, protection and divine feminine energy.

Why Do Devotees Worship Chhathi Maiya Along With the Sun God?

Chhath is widely recognised as a festival dedicated to Surya Dev, but Chhathi Maiya holds an equally meaningful place in the devotional beliefs surrounding it.

The Sun is associated with life, energy, agriculture and the natural cycles that sustain the world. Chhathi Maiya, meanwhile, is invoked for maternal protection, children's well-being and family prosperity.

Together, their worship brings two aspects of devotion into focus: gratitude for the natural force that sustains life and prayers for the protection of the family.

This relationship also explains why Chhath songs frequently address Chhathi Maiya while devotees offer prayers to the rising and setting Sun.

The goddess is not simply a secondary figure in the celebration. For many families, she is the maternal deity to whom their most personal prayers are directed.

Why Is Chhathi Maiya Less Familiar Outside Bihar?

Chhathi Maiya's identity is deeply connected with the regional religious and cultural traditions of Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh.

Unlike deities whose stories are widely circulated through national television, temples, popular retellings and mainstream religious literature, much of the understanding of Chhathi Maiya has travelled through oral traditions.

Chhath songs, family narratives and stories passed from mothers to daughters have played an important role in preserving her identity.

As people from Bihar and neighbouring regions migrated to cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bengaluru, they carried these traditions with them. Chhath celebrations gradually became more visible in places far beyond their original cultural centres.

However, the goddess behind the festival may still be less familiar to people who know Chhath primarily through its striking images of devotees standing in water and offering arghya to the Sun.

Understanding Chhathi Maiya therefore offers a different way of understanding the festival: not just as an elaborate observance of Sun worship, but also as a tradition shaped by maternal devotion, regional mythology and the desire to protect the next generation.

Why Chhathi Maiya's Story Matters Beyond Chhath Puja

Chhathi Maiya's significance lies in the way her identity brings together different strands of Hindu belief and regional folklore.

Whether devotees regard her as Surya Dev's sister, Shashthi Devi or a protective maternal goddess, the central sentiment remains closely connected with children's well-being, family happiness and the continuity of generations.

Her story also highlights how religious traditions are preserved beyond temples and formal scriptures. Through folk songs, family customs and generations of devotion, Chhathi Maiya has remained an important figure in the cultural identity of millions of people.

For those discovering her for the first time, the most interesting part of Chhathi Maiya's story is that she is not known through just one legend. Her identity has been shaped by the many communities that have worshipped her, remembered her stories and passed them on.