Kushmanda

Kushmanda
Goddess of The Cosmic Egg
Goddess Kushmanda, fourth form of Durga
Affiliation	Avatar of Shakti, Parvati
Weapon	Mace, Waterpot, Bow, Arrow, Discus, Rosary, Jar of Honey, Lotus
Consort	Shiva
Mount	Dawon (tiger or lion)

Kushmanda is the fourth form of the Hindu goddess Durga. Her name signals her importance: Ku means "a little", Ushma means "warmth" or "energy" and Anda means "cosmic egg". She created the universe with her divine smile.^[1]

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

Form

Kushmanda is depicted with eight hands holding a discus, sword, hook, mace, bow, arrow and two jars of honey and blood. She rides on a tiger or lion.

Origin

When the universe was non-existent and darkness prevailed everywhere, Maa Kushmanda produced the Cosmic egg with her smile, 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 direction to the Sun God, Surya.^[3]

Creation Of Tridev & Tridevi

Mahakali

From the glance of her 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.

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, whine-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 Lakshmi.

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, small drum, 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 Saraswati.

Shakti

Kushmanda's person from her face fell upon Mahakali. Immediately, a man and a woman sprang out of Mahakali’s body. The man had five faces, fifteen eyes and ten arms. His complexion was fair and he was clad in tiger-skin. A serpent was coiled around his throat and he wore a crescent moon on his forehead. He was armed with battle-axe, antelope, bow, arrow, trident, thunderbolt, skull-cup, Damru, rosary and a Kamandal. Kushmanda named him Shiva. 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 shakti.

Brahma/Lakshmi

Kushmanda's person from her feet fell upon Mahalakshmi. Immediately, a man and a woman sprang out of Mahalakshmi’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 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.

Vishnu and Shakti

Kushmanda's person from her arms fell upon Mahasaraswati. Immediately, a man and a woman sprang out of Mahasaraswati’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 a fair complexion. Clad in red, she held her two lower hands open while her two upper hands held a goad and a noose. Kushmanda named her Shakti, who was an incarnation or part of herself. Kushmanda then re-absorbed the triple Goddesses (Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, Mahasaraswati) and gave Shakti to Shiva, Saraswati to Brahma and Lakshmi to Vishnu as consorts. She then entered Shakti as an orb of great energy and a part of her resided in the Sun, giving him life and energy to burn and glow.

Chandi

Kushmanda is Goddess Shakti herself, the first being of the entire universe and she is only the one who created this universe by making her half being as Shiva. The man and woman created the universe and other Gods and Goddesses too. Adi Shakti took herself into three forms, one of the three splits was her own form. Kali and hence we find Adi Shakti as well as Kali being wife of Shiva. The other splits were Saraswati and Lakshmi. Adi Shakti Kushmanda had reappeared in the form of Chandi, by the combination of these three Goddesses. Kushmanda is also known as Smaanda Devi.

See also

• Shaktism
• Adi Parashakti

References