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Kushmanda
Goddess of The Cosmic Egg
Goddess Kushmanda, fourth form of Durga
Affiliation	Avatar of Parvati
Planet	Surya
Mantra	सुरासम्पूर्णकलशं रुधिराप्लुतमेव च। दधाना हस्तपद्माभ्यां कूष्माण्डा शुभदास्तु मे॥
Weapon	Lotus, Chakra, Kamandalu, Bow, Arrow, Gadha, Rosary, Jar of holy Elixir and blood
Mount	Tiger
Consort	Shiva

Kushmanda is a Hindu goddess, credited with creating the world with her divine smile.
Followers of the Kalikula tradition believe her to be the fourth form of the Hindu goddess Durga. Her name signals her main role: Ku means "a little", Ushma means "warmth" or "energy" and Anda means "cosmic egg".^[1]

Kushmanda is worshiped on the fourth day of the festival of Navratri (nine nights of Navadurga) and She is believed to improve health and bestow wealth and strength.^[2]

Form

Kushmanda is depicted with eight to ten hands holding a trident, discus, sword, hook, mace, bow, arrow and two jars of honey (Elixir) and blood. Her one hand is always on abhayamudra from which she blesses all her devotees. She rides on a tiger.

Origin

It is about the time when the universe was no more than a void full of darkness. There were no indications of the world anywhere. But then a ray of divine light, which is ever existing, spread everywhere, illuminating each and every nook of the void. This sea of light was formless. Suddenly, it started taking a definite size, and finally looked like a Divine Lady, who was none other than Goddess Kushmanda herself. The birth of the universe occurred because of the silent smile of Goddess Kushmanda. She was the one who produced the Cosmic egg. Her smile sent away the entirety of the darkness and thus formed a new creation of the universe. She gave light and life to the entire universe with her silent smile. The earth, planets, sun, stars and the galaxies were all brought into being. But to sustain life, the world needed the sun God. So, the Goddess centred herself in between the sun and she became the cause of the energy and light necessary for life. The sun gives life to the world and Goddess Kushmanda herself is the power of the sun and is the source of all energy when she resides within the core of the Sun God. From her smile, a body of energy came forth from her and from that potent energy, came forth light and creation. She always smiles when the Gods, inferior people and other celestial beings honored her.

When the universe was non-existent and darkness prevailed everywhere, Maa Kushmanda produced the Cosmic egg, bringing light to the universe. Kushmanda has the power and strength to live in the core of Sun. Her luminosity gives the Sun its brightness. She is said to give directions to the Sun God, Surya.^[3]

Creation

Creation of Mahakali

From the glance of Kushmanda's left eye, a terrible lady with pitch-black complexion was created. She had ten faces, ten arms, ten feet, thirty eyes, fifty fingers and fifty toes. Her hair was disheveled and tongue lolled. Her white teeth bit her ten tongues. She was clad in space except a girdle of severed arms and a garland of skulls. She was seated on a burning funeral pyre and cackled in a ghastly manner. She was armed with cleaver, trident, discus, arrow, shield, severed head, skull-cup, conch-shell, cross-bow and a club. She was collecting blood dripping from the severed head in the skull-cup and sipped it while eating carrion. Kushmanda named her Mahakali.

Creation of Mahalakshmi

From the glance of Kushmanda’s third eye, a ferocious lady with complexion of lava was created. She had eighteen arms. She was clad in saffron clothes and wore a warrior’s armour and helmet. She was armed with battle-axe, trident, discus, mace, thunderbolt, arrow, sword, lotus, rosary, conch-shell, bell, noose, spear, goad, bow, shield, wine-cup and a waterpot with handle. She sipped wine from the wine-cup. She was seated on a lotus and roared viciously. Kushmanda named her Mahalakshmi.

Creation of Mahasaraswati

From the glance of Kushmanda's right eye, a benevolent lady with complexion of milk was created. She had eight arms and three placid eyes. She was clad in white clothes and wore a crescent moon on her forehead. She was armed with trident, discus, pestle, arrow, conch shell, bell, bow and a ploughshare. Her face was glorious like the full moon and she wore pearl ornaments. She was seated on a gem-studded throne and maintained a serene smile. Kushmanda named her Mahasaraswati.

Creation of Brahma and Saraswati

Kushmanda's person from her feet fell upon Mahasarawati. Immediately, a man and a woman sprang out of Mahasarawati’s body. The man had four faces and four arms. His complexion was red and he was clad in saffron clothes. He wore expensive ornaments. He held lotus, book, rosary and a waterpot. Kushmanda named him Brahma. The woman had four arms and complexion of milk. Clad in white, she held a goad, a rosary, a book and a lotus. She wore white ornaments. Kushmanda named her Saraswati.

Creation of Vishnu and Lakshmi

Kushmanda's person from her arms fell upon Mahalakshmi. Immediately, a man and a woman sprang out of Mahaslakshmi’s body. The man had four arms. His complexion was dark and he was clad in yellow clothes. He was heavily decked with ornaments. He held a discus, a conch-shell, a mace and a lotus. Kushmanda named him Vishnu. The woman had four arms and fair complexion. Clad in gold, she held two lotus buds in her two upper arms while her two lower hands were held open. She was heavily decked with ornaments. Kushmanda named her Lakshmi.

Chandi

Shakti and Shiva then created this universe together, by merging with each other into the half-and-half form Ardhanarishvara. The two parts, man and woman, created the universe and other Gods and Goddesses too. Among all the gods and goddesses, the goddesses Saraswati, Lakshmi and Shakti are the ones who are closest to Kushmanda, with Shakti being the most perfect of the three. Much later on, when Saraswati, Lakshmi and Shakti combined themselves into one goddess, called Chandi, in order to defeat a powerful demon, the three reflections of Kushmanda were thus unified once more. Kushmanda is also known as Smaanda Devi.

See also

• Shaktism


• Adi Parashakti

References