Fourth Day of Navaratri: Kushmanda

SWAMI VISHWANANDA


AT YAGNA

4th DAY OF
NAVARATRI:


DEVI KUSHMANDA





Swami Vishwananda celebrates the Fourth Day of Navaratri: Kushmanda. The fourth appearance of the devi is in the form of Kushmanda. The mother gets the name as she created the universe with a smile. When there was darkness everywhere and there was no existence of the universe she created the universe with a smile. She is believed to be the source of eternal power. The Goddess has eight hands and that is why she is also known as "Ashtabhuja". Seven of the hands hold the holy urn (Kamandula), a bow, an arrow, a lotus, a pot containing wine, a disc and a club. The eighth hand holds a string of rosary beads that is believed to provide success and prudence. Pumpkin is termed as "Kushmandam" in Sanskrit. Amongst the sacrificial vegetables that are offered in the worship of the Goddess is pumpkin and it is the most important vegetable with which Devi Kushmanda is most placated. That is why she is named "Kushmanda". She is worshiped on the fourth day of the Navratri celebration abiding by the rituals that are described in the Sashtras and the Puranas. Worship of this form of the Devi exterminates sorrow and diseases and augments life, fame and strength. Mother Goddess is appeased with the slightest of devotion and if any one whole-heartedly worships the deity that one will certainly gain her favour.