Mata Kushmanda is the fourth goddess of Navdurga. She is considered the provider of basic necessities. The word, Kushmanda, refers to the cosmic egg. It is said that Maa Kushmanda created the universe out of the cosmic egg, unimaginatively long ago; that time, even the time didn’t exist.
She appears with eight hands holding bow, arrow, discus and mace in four hands; lotus, rosary, and holy urn (kamandal) in three arms; and a jar of nectar in eighth arm which gives health and long life to the devotees. Rosary represents her power to bless her devotees with Ashtasiddhi (8 types of studies or wisdom sources) and Navanidhi (9 types of wealth). She rides a lion, which represents Dhrama. Her golden complexion shines brightly in all the ten directions, like the Sun.
Due to her eight hands, she is also called Ashtbhuji.
You should worship this form of goddess Durga to get rid of your sorrows and diseases, augment your life, and get fame and strength. Devi Kushmanda gets pleased with slightest of devotion. If anybody worships her with shraddha (devotion), Maa certainly blesses him or her with everything he or she desires.
Kushmanda is considered the Devi of ‘Anahata Chakra’. When you meditate on Kushmanda with steady mind, your Anahat Chakra gets activated and your sorrows and ailments get disappeared, and your life-span, name, and strength get augmented.
Navratri Tithi
In Chaiti Navratri 2019, Maa Kushmanda will be worshipped on 9th Apr, the fourth day of Navratri. The day changes according to lunar calendar.
Brief Legend
Kushmanda is derived from Ku+Usma+Anda; ‘Ku’ means ‘a little’, ‘Usma’, ‘warmth’, and ‘Anda’, ‘a cosmic egg or universe’. This is the form of goddess from which universe is created. Hence, she got the name Kushmanda.
When there was a void full of darkness, even time was non-existent, mother Kushmanda created the universe with her sankalp as a mental projection. Before her arrival, there was neither ‘Sat’ nor ‘Asat’.
She
is considered to be residing in the inner portion of Suryalok (the Sun) where nobody
else can reside but she. The hue and luster of her body is just like that of
the Sun. whatever brilliance you see in this world is a simple reflection of
her splendor.
Customs and Traditions
Navratri Pooja is very simple. You should observe fast whole day or have fruits or juice in day and eat pure vegetarian food in night. If no way fasting is possible, simply chant the following mantra as much as you can:
"Om Ang Haring Kalimg Shreeng Maha Durgay Namah”
During Navratri, you should be careful about your aahar (food), vyavhar (behavior), and aacharan (character); eat pure vegetarian food, like fruits, Kuttu ka aataa, Shinghare ka aataa, curd or potatoes - strictly avoid non-vegetarian food. Consumption of garlic and onion is also not recommended. Navratri is celebrated in the honour of female form of God. Hence, during Navratri days, you should also worship only goddesses.
Kushmanda is the Sanskrit name for pumpkin. They say that she likes the recipes made of pumpkin. You should also consider offering pumpkin-recipes as Naibedya.
Pooja Vidhi with Mantras
Pooja items
- Picture or image of Maa Kushmanda
- Durga Sapthashati book, Devi’s armour
- Water in a kalash, mango leaves, coconut
- Roli, moli, chawal, paan, beetle nut.
- Cloves, cardamom, sindoor, abhir, gulal
- Dhoop, deepak, matchsticks
- Flowers white or pink, such as hibiscus, lotus, roses and belpatr leaves
- Fruits of five types such as pomegranate and sweets such as laddoo and peda
- Panchpatra containing spoon and water, pata, mat to sit (Aasan)
Panchamrit Preparation
Take a little raw cow milk and mix small amount of curd, shakkar, honey, and ghee in it.
Wash the place of pooja with water and gangajal. Place some grains of wheat on a beetle leaf, put on the ground and place water-filled on kalash on it. Insert five joined mango leaves in the kalash and, then, place a coconut on it. Tie moli in the kalash-neck. Light up a Deepak there and keep it lit till the pooja lasts. Light up some dhoop too there.
Place Maa Kushmanda on a beetle leaf in front of you. Concentrate your mind on Maa Kushmanda with the following mantra:
Suraa sampoorna kalasham rudhiraplu thwamevacha!
Dadhanaa hasthapadmabhyam Kushmanda shubhadaasthu may!!
Now, worship her step by step chanting the following mantras:
1. Atma-pooja
Perform ‘Atma-pooja’ for self-purification with the following mantra
Om Apavitrah Pavitro Va Sarvavastham Gatoapi Va,
Yah Smrait Pundarika Aksham Sa Vahy Abhyantarah Shuchih
Meaning: whoever contemplates on Vishnu gets purified physically and mentally.
2. Tilak and Aachman
Tilak is considered auspicious mark and Aachman is considered helping washing off sins committed by action, thought, and speech.
Apply Tilak on your forehead and do ‘Aachman’ (drinking of holy water after accepting it in your palm) with the following mantra:
Om Keshavaya Namah, Om Narayanaya Namah, Om Madhavaya Namah, Om Govindaya Namah
Meaning: I bow to thee Keshav, I bow to thee Narayan, I bow to thee Madhav, I bow to thee Govind.
3. Sankalpa
To achieve the purpose of the pooja, do sankalpa (resolve) by taking a little water in hand and saying your wish in whispering voice to Maa Kushmanda.
4. Aawahan
Pray to invite Maa Kushmanda with the following mantra:
Aagachha Tvam Mahadevi ! Sthane Chatra Sthira Bhav. Yavata Pujaam Karisyami Tavata Tvam Snidho Bhav.
Shri Jagadambaye Kushmanda Devye Namha. Kushmanda devimaawahayami. Aawahanartheye Pushpaanjali Samarpayami.
(Offer flowers at the feet of Maa Kushmanda)
5. Aasan
After Dhyan and Mantras, Pray and offer:
Om sarvmangal mangaleye shivesarvaarth sadhike, Sharneye Traymbake gauri Narayani Namostute.
Shri Jagadambaye Kushmanda Devye Namha. Aasanarthey Pushpani Samarpayami.
(Offer flowers)
6. Paadha
Shri Jagadambaye Kushmanda Devye Namha. Padayoh Paadham Samarpayami.
(Offer water to Mother’s Shri Charan)
7. Arghya
Shri Jagadambaye Kushmanda Devye Namha. Hastyoh Arghya Samarpayami.
(Offer Chandan,Pushpa and Akshat mixed water)
8. Aachman
Shri Jagadambaye Kushmanda Devye Namha. Aachamanam Samarpayami.
(Offer Karpoor mixed water)
9. Snan
Shri Jagadambaye Kushmanda Devye Namha Snanartham Jalam Samarpayami.
(Offer GangaJal for Bath)
Snananga Aachaman Snanantey Punrachamaniyam Jalam Samarpayami.
(Offer water for aachman)
10. Dugdha Snan
Shri Jagadambaye Kushmanda Devye Namha DugdhaSnanam Samarpayami.
(Offer Cow-milk for Bath)
11. Dadhi Snan
Shri Jagadambaye Kushmanda Devye Namha DadhiSnanam Samarpayami.
(Offer curd made from cow milk for bath)
12. Ghrit Snan
Shri Jagadambaye Kushmanda Devye Namha GhritSnanam Samarpayami.
(Offer Gou-Ghee for Bath)
13. Madhu Snan
Shri Jagadambaye Kushmanda Devye Namha MadhuSnanam Samarpayami.
(Offer Honey for Bath)
14. Sharkara Snan
Shri Jagadambaye Kushmanda Devye Namha SharkaraSnanam Samarpayami.
(Offer sugar for Bath)
15. Panchaamrit Snan
Shri Jagadambaye Kushmanda Devye Namha PanchaamritSnanam Samarpayami.
(Offer Panchaamrit for Bath)
16. Gandhodak Snan
Shri Jagadambaye Kushmanda Devye Namha GandhodakSnanam Samarpayami.
(Offer MalayaChandan and Agaru mixed water for Bath)
17. Shudhodak Snan
Shri Jagadambaye Kushmanda Devye Namha ShudhodakSnanam Samarpayami.
(Offer holy water for final bath)
18. Aachman
ShudhodakSnanante Aachamaniyam Jalam Samarpayami.
(Offer water for Aachaman)
19. Vastra
Shri Jagadambaye Kushmanda Devye Namha Vastropavastram Kanchukiyam ch Samarpayami.
(Offer saree or moli)
20. Aachman: Vastranante Aachamaniym jalam Samarpayami
21. Shobhagya Sutra
Shri Jagadambaye Kushmanda Devye Namha ShobhagyaSutram Samarpayami.
22. Chandan
Shri Jagadambaye Kushmanda Devye Namha Chandanam Samarpayami.
23. Haridrachurna
Shri Jagadambaye Kushmanda Devye Namha Haridraam Samarpayami.
24. Kumkum
Shri Jagadambaye Kushmanda Devye Namha Kumkumam Samarpayami.
25. Sindoor
Shri Jagadambaye Kushmanda Devye Namha Sindooram Samarpayami.
26. Kajal
Shri Jagadambaye Kushmanda Devye Namha Kajjalm Samarpayami.
27. Durvankur (Durva)
Shri Jagadambaye Kushmanda Devye Namha Durvankuraan Samarpayami.
28. BilvaPatra
Shri Jagadambaye Kushmanda Devye Namha BilvaPatram Samarpayami.
29. Abhushan
Shri Jagadambaye Kushmanda Devye Namha Abhushnaani Samarpayami.
30. Pushpamala
Shri Jagadambaye Kushmanda Devye Namha Pushpamalam Samarpayami.
31. Nanaparimaldraviya (dravya or paisa)
Shri Jagadambaye Kushmanda Devye Namha NanaparimalDraviyaani Samarpayami.
32. Shobhagya Patika
Shri Jagadambaye Kushmanda Devye Namha Shobhagyapatikam Samarpayami.
33. Dhoop
Shri Jagadambaye Kushmanda Devye Namha Dhoopmaaghrapayami.
34. Deep
Shri Jagadambaye Kushmanda Devye Namha Deepam Darshyami.
(Show deep to mother and wash your hand)
35. Naibaidha
Shri Jagadambaye Kushmanda Devye Namha Naibaidham Nivedyami.
Aachman: offer aachaman
36. Rituphal
Shri Jagadambaye Kushmanda Devye Namha Rituphalani Samarpayami.
37. Tammbul (paan)
Shri Jagadambaye Kushmanda Devye Namha Tammbulam Samarpayami.
38. Dakshina (paisa)
Shri Jagadambaye Kushmanda Devye Namha Dakshinaam Samarpayami.
39. Aarti (karpoor and bati)
Shri Jagadambaye Kushmanda Devye Namha Karpooraratirkyam Samarpayami.
Maa KushmandaAarti
Kushmanda jay sukhdaani
Mujh per daya karo maharani
Pingla Jawalamukhi nirali
Shakambri Ma bholi bhali
Lakho naam nirale tere
Bakat kai matwale tere
Bheema paravat per hai dera
Savikaro parnaam yah mera
Sab ki sunati ho Jagdumbein
Sukh pahuchati hu MA Ambein
Tere Darshan ki main Payaasi
Puran kar do Asha meri Mehtaari
MA ke man mai mamta bhari
Kayun na sunegi araj(request) humari
Tere dar per kiya hai dera
Door karo MA sankat mera
Mere karaj pure kar do
Mere tum bhandaare bhar do
Teri daas tujhe hi dhayae
Vandna Tere dar sheesh jhukaaye
40. Pradikshna (parikarma)
Shri Jagadambaye Kushmanda Devye Namha Pradikshnaanm Samarpayami.
41. Mantrapushpanjali
Shri Jagadambaye Kushmanda Devye Namha Mantrapushpanjalim Samarpayami
42. Namaskar
Ya devi sarva bhutesu, shanti rupena sansitha
Ya devi sarva bhutesu, shakti rupena sansthita
Ya devi sarva bhutesu, matra rupena sansthita
Namastasyai, namastasyai, namastasyai, namo namaha !
Shri Jagadambaye Kushmanda Devye Namha Namaskaraan Samarpayami.
43. Kshma Yachna
Aawahanam Na Jaanami Na jaanami Tav archanam, Pujaam ch na jaanami Kshamattam Parameshwari.
Mantrahinam Kriyahinam Bhaktihinam Sureshwari, Yattpujitam Maya Devi Paripuranm Tadastu me.
Shri Jagadambaye Kushmanda Devye Namha KshamaYachanam Samarpayami
44. Arpna
Aum Tattsad Brahmarpanmastu,
Vishnave Namh, Vishnave Namh, Vishnave Namh.
!! OM Kushmanda Tum Hi Rakhsa Karo !!
!! OM Shakthirupa Maiya Rakhsa Karo !!
!! OM Nav Durga Namah !!
!! OM Jag-Jana-ni Namah !!