Maa Kushmanda
The Creator of the Universe and Saviour of the Earth
Prof (Dr) Shalini Verma ‘Lifoholic’
10th of October, 2021: On the 4th day of Navratri, we celebrate spirituality, beauty and internal power that Maa Kushmanda, one of nine forms of Adi Shakti Maa Durga. The glow and radiance of her body is as luminous as that of the Sun.
Maa Kushmanda is invoked on the fourth day of the Navaratri. In this form, she embodies unique combination of the radiance of the Sun and the super healing powers. She resides in the core of the centre of the sun and gives the sun the direction.
Maa Kushmanda’s name translates into three small words – ‘Ku’ means little. ‘Ushma’ means small and smiling and ‘Anda’ means egg which translates into a small cosmic egg. Because she created the whole universe, also called Brahmanda (ब्रह्माण्ड) in Sanskrit, by just flashing a little smile and likes Bali of white pumpkin known as Kushmanda (कुष्माण्ड) – her association with Brahmanda and Kushmanda made her known as Maa Kushmanda. She has eight hands so she is also known as Ashtabhuja Devi. She has Kamandal, Dhanush, Bada and Kamal in the right hands and Amrit Kalash, Jap Mala, Gada and Chakra in the left hands in that order. All the powers to bestow Siddhis and Niddhis are located in her Jap Mala.
Stuti
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु माँ कूष्माण्डा रूपेण संस्थिता। न।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥
Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Maa Kushmanda Rupena Samsthita।
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah॥
As per the legend, Maa Kushmanda is actually the creator of this universe. In the beginning, there was nothing but darkness. The earth, planets, stars, and galaxies were all brought into being. But to sustain life, the world needed the light and warmth of the Sun so Maa Kushmanda created the Sun and put herself in its center thereby becoming the cause of the energy and light necessary for life.
After that, Maa Kushmanda, with her divine energy produced a small cosmic egg – the universe where we live. She created 3 life forms – from her three eyes – right, left and the center eye on her forehead. Those three forms were – Maa Mahalakshmi – the compassionate goddess of wealth and happiness; Maa Mahakali – the fierce goddess of power and valour; and Maa Mahasaraswati – the benevolent and smiling Goddess of knowledge and wisdom. Later, Maa Kushmanda absorbed her three forms back into herself and became one as Adi Shakti.
Maa Kushmanda illumines the universe with her divine light and removes all sorts of negative energy. By blessing this universe with the Sun, she made it possible for LIFE to exist on our planet Earth.
It is believed that the Sun is governed by Maa Kushmanda as she provides direction and energy to the Sun.
Prarthana
सुरासम्पूर्ण कलशं रुधिराप्लुतमेव च।
दधाना हस्तपद्माभ्यां कूष्माण्डा शुभदास्तु मे॥
Surasampurna Kalasham Rudhiraplutameva Cha।
Dadhana Hastapadmabhyam Kushmanda Shubhadastu Me॥
