Navaratri Fourth day dedicated to Devi Kushmanda

 

    The goddess is worshiped as Kushmanda on the fourth day in Navratri.  This goddess has been named as Kushmanda because of its dim, light laughter causing the egg.  When there was no creation, darkness was all around, then this goddess created the universe with her godly humor.  That is why it has been called Adi Swaroopa or Adishakti of the universe.

The first word is “Ku” which means little. The second word is “Ushma” which means warmth or energy. And the third word is “Anda” which means egg.

Upon combining the three words, one can derive the meaning of her name which means the one who is the creator of this “little cosmic egg” called Universe. As mentioned above, this form is a happy manifestation of the goddess.

Kushmanda Devi is known as Ashtabhuja as she has eight hands and rides a lioness. She holds the Kamandal, Dhanush, Bada and Kamal in the four right hands and Amrit Kalash, Jap Mala, Gada and Chakra in the left hands.

Mythological Story of Devi Kushmanda:

     There is an interesting story about Maa Kushmanda. It is said that when the Universe was non-existent and there was darkness everywhere, Maa Kushmanda produced this "little cosmic egg" with her smile. The universe was then filled with light. It is believed that she is the source of all the energy of the universe that she lives in the core of the sun and thus provides energy to all the begins. She is believed to provide direction to Surya, the Sun God.

    After that, Maa Kushmanda created the first beings. These were three supreme Goddesses. With her left eye, she created a terrorizing form and named her Mahakali. From her center eye on her forehead, she created another form and named her Mahalakshmi.From her right eye, came an extremely benevolent and smiling form,which she named Mahasaraswati.

     From the body of Mahakali, a male and a female took birth. The male had five heads and ten arms. He was named as Shiva. The female had one head and four arms. Her name was kept Saraswati.

    From Mahalakshmi's body also a male and a female took birth. The male had four heads and four arms. Maa Kushmanda named him as Brahma whereas the female was named as Lakshmi. She had one head and four arms.

    When Maa Kushmanda glanced at Mahasaraswati, she also gave birth to a male and a female. The male had one head and four arms. He was named Vishnu. The female had one head and four arms and named as Shakti.

   Then she offered Shakti to Shiva, Saraswati to Brahma and Lakshmi to Vishnu as consorts.

Maa Kushmanda Mantras:

"Om Devi Kushmandayai Namah

Om Devi Kushmandayayi Namah Suraasampoorna Kalasham Rudhiraaplutamev Cha

Dadhaanaa Hastpadmaabhyaam Kushmanda Shubhdaastu Me //"

Maa Kushmanda Prarthna:

"Surasampurna Kalasham Rudhiraplutameva Cha

Dadhana Hastapadmabhyam Kushmanda Shubhadastu Me //"

                              HAPPY NAVARATRI