Shri Kushmanda Avatar -

Kushmanda | Avatar of maa shakti

Maa Kushmanda is the fourth form of Goddess Durga, worshipped on the fourth day of Navratri. She is revered as the creator of the universe, the radiant source of cosmic energy, and the mother who gave life to all beings. Her name comes from three words: Ku (a little), Ushma (warmth/energy), and Anda (cosmic egg), symbolizing that she created the universe from a small spark of divine energy.

ॐ देवी कूष्माण्डायै नमः॥

― Shri Kushmanda Avatar

Kushmanda Avatar is the fourth form of Goddess Durga, worshipped on the fourth day of Navratri. She is believed to have created the universe with her divine smile

Mythological Significance of Kushmanda Avatar

It is said that before creation, there was only darkness everywhere. Then, Maa Kushmanda smiled, and from her divine radiance, the Sun, planets, and the entire cosmos came into existence. Her gentle laughter gave birth to the “Anda” (cosmic egg) — the seed of creation.

She is also known as the “Adi Shakti”, the first energy that gave form to the formless. Residing in the core of the Sun, she provides light and life to all beings.

In her iconography, Maa Kushmanda is depicted with eight or ten hands, holding weapons, rosary, and a pot of nectar — symbolizing creation, nourishment, and power.

Worshipping her is believed to:

Bring vitality, courage, and strength,

Remove diseases and negative energies,

Fill life with light, happiness, and prosperity.

Her eight or ten hands carry various divine objects — a chakra, bow, arrow, mace, lotus, rosary, nectar pot, and other symbols of creation and destruction — showing that she maintains the balance of the universe through her powers.

Symbolism of Kushmanda Avatar

Maa Kushmanda symbolizes the divine energy from which the entire universe originated. Her name itself carries deep meaning — Ku means “a little,” Ushma means “warmth” or “energy,” and Anda means “cosmic egg,” representing her as the one who created the universe from a small, radiant core of energy. She resides in the heart of the Sun, symbolizing light, vitality, and the life-giving force that sustains all beings. Her radiant form signifies that she is the source of illumination, dispelling darkness and ignorance from the world. The gentle smile through which she created the cosmos represents creation born out of joy, peace, and divine will — showing that true power lies not in aggression but in serene creativity.

Her multiple hands carrying various objects like weapons, a rosary, a nectar pot, and a lotus symbolize the perfect balance between creation and destruction, wisdom and strength, purity and protection. The Brahmanda or cosmic egg is a symbol of her boundless creative power, as everything in existence emerged from her divine energy. Spiritually, Maa Kushmanda represents the inner light within every being — the consciousness that connects all living souls to the supreme energy. She teaches that even a small spark of positivity and divine awareness within us can illuminate our entire life, just as her single smile filled the dark void with the brilliance of creation.

Her serene smile reflects the truth that creation is an act of divine joy, not conflict — that harmony and grace can give rise to infinite power. The objects she holds — a rosary, nectar pot, lotus, and divine weapons — symbolize her complete mastery over creation, preservation, and destruction, the three cosmic functions that maintain universal balance. The rosary denotes continuous creation, the nectar pot signifies life and immortality, the lotus stands for purity amid chaos, and the weapons represent protection against evil.

Worship of Kushmanda Avatar of Maa Shakti

The worship of Maa Kushmanda, the fourth form of Maa Durga, is performed on the fourth day (Chaturthi) of Navratri. Devotees honor her as the creator of the universe, the source of energy and light, who blesses her followers with health, strength, and prosperity.

Worshipping Maa Kushmanda begins with purification of the mind and body, followed by invoking Lord Ganesha and Kalash Sthapana to welcome divine energy. A calm, clean, and sacred place is chosen for the puja, often decorated with flowers and a lamp filled with ghee, symbolizing light and purity. The image or idol of Maa Kushmanda is placed on a red cloth — red being the color of power and vitality.

Devotees then recite her mantra —
“ॐ देवी कूष्माण्डायै नमः॥ (Om Devi Kushmandayai Namah)” —
with devotion and focus, seeking her blessings for radiance, wisdom, and courage. Offerings of fresh flowers, fruits, coconut, and malpua (a sweet dish dear to her) are made, as these symbolize nourishment and happiness.

Special prayers like the Durga Saptashati, Kushmanda Stotra, or her Dhyana Mantra are chanted to honor her creative and protective powers. Lighting an earthen lamp (diya) throughout the puja signifies inviting her divine light to dwell in the heart and home.

Spiritually, worship of Maa Kushmanda removes negativity, fear, and illness, filling life with energy, hope, and clarity. Her blessings bring not only material prosperity but also the inner awakening of divine consciousness — reminding devotees that she, the Mother of the Sun, is the light within all living beings.

Thus, the worship of Maa Kushmanda is a sacred celebration of life, creation, and spiritual illumination, where the devotee connects with the primal energy that sustains the cosmos.

Mantras of the Divine Avatar

ॐ देवी कूष्माण्डायै नमः॥

“I bow to the Divine Mother Kushmanda, the radiant creator of the universe, whose smile brought light and life to all creation. May her energy fill my life with health, strength, and inner brightness.”

Aarti of the Divine Avatar

सूर्यपुत्री कूष्मांडा माता,
सभी जग में प्रकाश फैलाती।
अंधकार मिटाकर सुख लाती,
जय कूष्मांडा माता।
जय कूष्मांडा माता॥

“O Mother Kushmanda, daughter of the Sun, who spreads light throughout the world. You remove darkness and bring happiness to all. Victory to you, O Divine Mother!”