Kushmunda | Navratri Day 4

Kushmunda | Navratri Day 4

Maa Kushmunda is worshipped on the fourth day of Navratri. Her name is formed from three words “Ku” means little, “Ushma” means warmth and energy, and “Anda” means egg.

Hence she is the creator of this “little cosmic egg” called Universe or “creator of the universe“. She created the universe and shine it with brightness in all directions just as the sun does. It is believed that the universe was a dark gloomy place till Devi Kushmunda filled it up with her light. Kushmunda created the universe through a bout of laughter and made it verdant with vegetation.

She is depicted with having eight hands, with a rosary in the right hand and seven types of weapons in other hands, and sits on a tiger. She is the embodiment of happiness and harmony and brings wealth and health to the lives of those who worship her.

The story of Maa Kushmunda in English

It is said that when the universe was non-existent and there was darkness everywhere, Devi Kushmanda produced this “little cosmic egg” with her “Ishath hasya”. That means, just a mild smile of Adi Shakthi Kushmanda is powerful enough to create the whole universe. Just by her smile, the universe was then filled with light. It is believed that she is the source of all the energy in the universe.

Further, it is also believed that she lives in the core of the Sun and thus provides energy to all beings. She is one who directs the energy of Surya, the Sun, towards the earth. Devi Kushmanda is the only one who can reside in Surya Loka, no one else than her can control so much energy.

After creating the Universe, Devi Kushmanda created the three supreme Devis. With her left eye, she created a terrorizing form of herself and named her Mahakali. From her center eye (on her forehead), she created another glorious 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 Shiva. The female had one head and four arms. Her name was kept- Saraswati. Mahalakshmi’s body was also male and a female took birth. The male had four heads and four arms.

Devi Kushmanda named him Brahma whereas the female was named Lakshmi. She had one head and four arms. When Devi 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 was named Shakti. She then offered Shakti to Shiva, Saraswati to Brahma, and Lakshmi to Vishnu as consorts. Thereafter, Devi Kushmanda absorbed the three supreme Devi and herself entered Shakti as divine and unending energy.

Kushmanda possesses eight arms. She wields a Kamandalu, a bow, an arrow, a lotus, a pot of amrutha, a chakra, a mace, and a japamala in her eight arms. She rides a lion which evokes fearlessness in her devotees. She bestows all pleasure and her regular worship brings prosperity, powers, pleasures, and salvation. She destroys all ailments, troubles, and hurdles of her true devotees.

Yogis will worship Kushmanda Devi and settle their Manas in the ‘Anahata’ chakra. Devi will bless them with the manas which doesn’t get distracted and could have great concentration required for further sadhana. Devi Kushmanda’s blessing will cure even the remnant Karma of previous birth also. Her worship will not only give all happiness of this world but also will direct an Atma to attain Moksha.

Suggested Read: Different Forms of Durga

Maa Kushmunda Ki Katha

दुर्गा सप्तशती के कवच में लिखा है कुत्सित कूष्मा कूष्मा-त्रिविधतापयुत संसार, स अण्डे मांसपेश्यामुदररूपायां यस्या सा कूष्मांडा। इसका अर्थ है वह देवी जिनके उदर में त्रिविध तापयुक्त संसार स्थित है वह कूष्माण्डा हैं। देवी कूष्माण्डा इस चराचार जगत की अधिष्ठात्री हैं।

जब सृष्टि की रचना नहीं हुई थी उस समय अंधकार का साम्राज्य था देवी कुष्मांडा जिनका मुखमंड सैकड़ों सूर्य की प्रभा से प्रदिप्त है उस समय प्रकट हुई उनके मुख पर बिखरी मुस्कुराहट से सृष्टि की पलकें झपकनी शुरू हो गयी और जिस प्रकार फूल में अण्ड का जन्म होता है उसी प्रकार कुसुम अर्थात फूल के समान मां की हंसी से सृष्टि में ब्रह्मण्ड का जन्म हुआ अत यह देवी कूष्माण्डा के रूप में विख्यात हुई।

इस देवी का निवास सूर्यमण्डल के मध्य में है और यह सूर्य मंडल को अपने संकेत से नियंत्रित रखती हैं। देवी कूष्मांडा अष्टभुजा से युक्त हैं इन्हें देवी अष्टभुजा के नाम से भी जाना जाता है. देवी अपने इन हाथों में क्रमश कमण्डलु, धनुष, बाण, कमल का फूल, अमृत से भरा कलश, चक्र तथा गदा है।

देवी के आठवें हाथ में बिजरंके (कमल फूल का बीज) का माला है है, यह माला भक्तों को सभी प्रकार की ऋद्धि सिद्धि देने वाला है. देवी अपने प्रिय वाहन सिंह पर सवार हैं. जो भक्त श्रद्धा पूर्वक इस देवी की उपासना दुर्गा पूजा के चौथे दिन करता है उसके सभी प्रकार के कष्ट रोग, शोक का अंत होता है और आयु एवं यश की प्राप्ति होती है।

Maa Kushmunda Mantra

Yādēvīsarvabhūtēṣumāmkushmandarūpēṇasansthitā |

Namastasyainamastasyainamastasyainamōnama: ||

यादेवीसर्वभू‍तेषुमाँकूष्माण्डारूपेणसंस्थिता।

नमस्तस्यैनमस्तस्यैनमस्तस्यैनमोनम:।।

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Simmi Kamboj

Simmi Kamboj is the Founder and Administrator of Ritiriwaz, your one-stop guide to Indian Culture and Tradition. She had a passion for writing about India's lifestyle, culture, tradition, travel, and is trying to cover all Indian Cultural aspects of Daily Life.