Maa Kushmanda is the fourth form of the goddess Durga in the Navdurga sequence and is worshipped on the fourth day of Navratri. Her name is derived from “Ku” meaning little, “ushma” meaning warmth or energy, and “anda” meaning cosmic egg, as she is believed to have created the universe from a tiny cosmic egg with her divine smile. Before the creation of the universe, there was only darkness and chaos. To create the universe, Maa Kushmanda emitted a burst of divine energy from her body, which filled the universe with light and warmth. It is believed that she created the sun, planets, and other celestial bodies with her divine energy and brought light to the universe. The importance of worshipping Mata Kushmanda lies in invoking the energy of creativity and abundance. Maa Kushmanda is often depicted with eight arms, holding weapons such as a bow, arrow, sword, and a lotus. She is also seen holding a rosary and a jar of nectar, which represent her ability to bless her devotees with abundance and happiness. By worshipping Maa Kushmanda, devotees seek blessings for good health, wealth, and prosperity. Her blessings are believed to help remove all kinds of negative influences and fill their lives with positivity and abundance. In summary, the worship of Maa Kushmanda is an important part of the Navratri festival, as it invokes the blessings of the divine feminine energy in the form of a creator and nurturer, who provides warmth and light to the universe and blesses her devotees with abundance and happiness. Mantra: ऐं ह्री देव्यै नम:। OR ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै नम:।
