The nine days of Navratri are a celebration of the divine avatars of Maa Durga, each day having special energies and blessings. The fourth day of Navratri is the day of Devi Kushmanda, the goddess who is also considered to be the universe creator. She is also worshiped as the 3rd day of Navratri in certain schools. With her divine smile, she is supposed to have made the universe and filled it with light and energy, for which she was titled Kushmanda, or “the cosmic egg former.”
Who is Devi Kushmanda?
Devi Kushmanda is the fourth incarnation of Maa Durga and represents power, energy, and strength. Her divine form is said to fill the whole universe with light, and hence she is the embodiment of cosmic energy and light. Her name is composed of three Sanskrit words: Ku (minute), Ushma (heat or energy), and Anda (cosmic egg). This is representing the fact that she can generate the universe with her energy and heat.
Shown with eight arms, Devi Kushmanda holds kamandalu (pot of water), bow, arrow, lotus, kalash (nectar pot) nectar-containing, discus, and mace in her arms and blesses her devotees with her eighth arm. She is seated on the lion, which represents fearlessness and courage.
The Creation of the Universe by Devi Kushmanda
It is in Hindu mythology that prior to the creation of the world, darkness pervaded everywhere. Devi Kushmanda was the one who formed the universe with her beaming smile and gave birth to birth, heat, and energy in the world. She is considered the Adi Shakti, the ultimate source of all creation, and the goddess who maintains the equilibrium of life.
She, the Creator, is also the solar system’s sovereign. It is said that the Sun God (Surya Deva) gains his radiance and vigor from Devi Kushmanda. This sole relationship with the Sun demonstrates that she is the cosmic light’s divine source of everything.
Meaning of Celebrating Devi Kushmanda on the 4th Day of Navratri
In the fourth day of Navratri, the worshippers perform puja on Devi Kushmanda so that she grants them blessings for happiness, good health, and energy. It is supposed that her divine blessing washes away every hindrance in life and gives it positivity and achievement. She is also identified with Anahata Chakra (Heart Chakra), the motivational force behind love, mercy, and emotional balance.
Advantages of Worshiping Devi Kushmanda
Grants health, prosperity, and long life.
Increases creativity, knowledge, and intelligence.
Doubles up and drives away diseases, fear, and negative vibes.
Gives intellectual clarity and spiritual awakening.
Kushmanda is given pumpkin by the practitioners as Prasad since she prefers that fruit the most. The practitioners also fast and conduct special pujas in order to gain her divine mercy.
Also Read: Transmute Fear into Strength and Wisdom
Rituals for Worshipping Devi Kushmanda
To obtain Maa Kushmanda’s blessings, the devotees go through these rituals on the fourth day of Navratri:
Purification: Begin the day with a bath and wear clean, orange-colored clothes since orange is Devi Kushmanda’s color.
Puja Vidhi: Sit an idol or photo of Maa Kushmanda on a cleaned platform.
Offerings: Offer flowers, fruits, kumkum, and pumpkin to the goddess.
Chant Mantras: Recite the following mantra to ask her divine blessings:
“ॐ देवी कूष्माण्डायै नमः”
Aarti and Bhajans: Sing Navratri bhajans and do aarti to finalize the puja.
Charity and Feeding the Poor: Donations and food to the poor are believed to be a very auspicious act on this day.
Symbolism of Devi Kushmanda
Devi Kushmanda is a representative of cosmic power and creative energy. She represents the energy of life force and strength and is what brings to life all things that exist. Her association with the Sun God means that she is the life force that energizes all with life. Devi also represents vanquishing evil through goodness, calling on worshipers to shoo away evil and live with good energy.
Conclusion
The fourth Navratri is dedicated in worship of Devi Kushmanda, the divine goddess who has started the creation of the universe with her charming smile. She is also asked for by third-day Devi in some schools of faith and is supposed to bestow on her believers with good health, prosperity, and blissfulness. Her energies of vitality, vivacity, and light can be attained through reverberation by Maa Kushmanda. While celebrating Navratri, let us invite her divine blessings in our life and seek her guidance to steer our life in a positive and fearless direction.
Let us pray that Goddess Kushmanda should bestow eternal peace, happiness, and wisdom to all of her devotees. Jai Maa Kushmanda!
Leave a Reply