She who created the cosmos with her smile

Maa Kushmanda

Maa Kushmanda is the fourth of the nine forms of Durga (Navdurga), worshipped on day 4 of Navratri, the Shukla Chaturthi tithi. The Devi Kavach names her fourth in its list of the nine forms.

Maa Kushmanda Mahatmya

It is believed the Goddess created the whole universe with the faintest smile, which is why she is called Kushmanda. She dwells inside the Sun and gives the world its energy from there, so her radiance is said to be as bright as the Sun's.

She has eight hands, hence the name Ashtabhuja Devi, and rides a lion. All the power to grant siddhis and riches is said to rest in her japa mala, and the white pumpkin (kushmanda) is her favoured offering.

Worship of Maa Kushmanda is believed to bless the devotee with wisdom, sound judgement and good health, and to ease troubles linked to the Sun (Surya). Her customary bhog is malpua.

Maa Kushmanda: Mantra, Prayer and Stuti

Mantra

ॐ देवी कूष्माण्डायै नमः॥

oṃ devī kūṣmāṇḍāyai namaḥ||

Prarthana (Dhyana)

सुरासम्पूर्ण कलशं रुधिराप्लुतमेव च।दधाना हस्तपद्माभ्यां कूष्माण्डा शुभदास्तु मे॥

surāsampūrṇa kalaśaṃ rudhirāplutameva ca|dadhānā hastapadmābhyāṃ kūṣmāṇḍā śubhadāstu me||

Stuti

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु माँ कूष्माण्डा रूपेण संस्थिता।नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥

yā devī sarvabhūteṣu mām̐ kūṣmāṇḍā rūpeṇa saṃsthitā|namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ||

Navdurga in the Devi Kavach (verses 3-5) →

प्रथमं शैलपुत्री च द्वितीयं ब्रह्मचारिणी।तृतीयं चन्द्रघण्टेति कूष्माण्डेति चतुर्थकम्॥पञ्चमं स्कन्दमातेति षष्ठं कात्यायनीति च।सप्तमं कालरात्रीति महागौरीति चाष्टमम्॥नवमं सिद्धिदात्री च नवदुर्गाः प्रकीर्तिताः।

prathamaṃ śailaputrī ca dvitīyaṃ brahmacāriṇī|tṛtīyaṃ candraghaṇṭeti kūṣmāṇḍeti caturthakam||pañcamaṃ skandamāteti ṣaṣṭhaṃ kātyāyanīti ca|saptamaṃ kālarātrīti mahāgaurīti cāṣṭamam||navamaṃ siddhidātrī ca navadurgāḥ prakīrtitāḥ|

Readings Related to Maa Kushmanda

About Maa Kushmanda

On day 4 of Navratri, after the morning bath, meditate on Maa Kushmanda before the kalash with the prayer above, chant her mantra and offer the bhog. In the Durga Saptashati's seven-day reading order, the fourth day of Navratri covers chapter 5, chapter 6, chapter 7, chapter 8.