Shitala is the goddess of smallpox. To this day Indians pray and give offerings of fruit to her. The belief that the most effective way to prevent disease was prayer stopped people from looking for practical causes like rats and fleas or feces in the drinking water. There is no evidence that prayer has any effect. People do it out of wishful thinking and laziness. It is much easier than taking effective action.
~ Roedy (born: 1948-02-04 age: 64)