It is the fourth day of Navratri, and the celebrations are in full flow now. Today, devotees turn their prayers to the Godess, praying to her in the form of Kushmanda, the radiant mother who is said to have created the whole universe.

How the Universe went dark

Long ago, two devotees of Shiva, Mali and Sumali were deep in penance. The energy from the penance they performed was such, that they started glowing brightly. The dazzling brightness of their glow even caught the sun god, Surya’s eye.

Intrigued, Surya thought to himself, “I have been given the responsibility of illuminating the earth with my light, so why do I see two more suns, that too on earth?” Deciding to investigate the situation, Surya descended to where Mali and Sumali were.

Deep in meditation and unable to protect themselves from Surya’s head, Mali and Sumali were turned to ash.

However, this wasn’t Surya’s intent. He did not mean to kill them, but the heat he generated led to the unfortunate outcome. 

When Shiva heard what Surya had done to his devotees, he was furious. Not thinking for even a moment, he acted hastily. He struck Surya with his trident, killing him, and leaving the whole universe in darkness

With darkness everywhere, the universe came to a halt. The circle of life stopped. Chaos ruled everywhere, and life on earth was on the verge of extinction.

How the Goddess Kushmanda brought back the Sun

With the world on the brink of mass extinction, Shiva went to Parvati, and asked her to restore Surya’s life, so balance could be restored.

This is where Parvati, as the Goddess Kushmanda stepped in. If Shiva was impulsive, Kushmanda provided clarity as balance. She made the word see that every creation needed its own time to germinate, as indeed, this story tell us that things can survive only with the right amount of light, air, or heat, as the case of Mali and Sumali proved.

Smiling, she gave Surya’s parents two bowls, and directed them to fill them with their blood, and nectar, and to make Surya drink from those bowls. He would then be brought back to life.

She also gave Mali and Sumali’s parents two eggs, from which they would both be reborn, and then, she revealed herself as Kushmanda.

Legends tell us that her very name tells the whole story. ‘Ku’ means little, ‘Ushma’ means warmth, and ‘Anda’ means egg. Put together, they form the ‘Cosmic Egg’, the womb of creation.

Kushmanda is the seed of creation, and the energy from which everything sprouts, perhaps, like an egg holding life inside, waiting for the perfect moment to break open

Worship of Goddess Kushmanda During Navratri

Kushmanda is often shown with eight arms, and her devotees worship her as ‘Ashtabhuja Devi’. She is also said to ride a tiger, and is dressed in red, said to be her favourite colour.

The Goddess in this form is said to reside in the Anahata Chakra of the Kundalini Life Energy, and worshipping Kushmanda is also said to unleash the potential hidden inside devotees. She also symbolizes compassion.

Unlocking Inner Energy with Kushmanda

Let’s think of her as the spark that turns chaos into balance, and just as her smile lit up the whole universe, her story reminds us that even small acts of warmth can create ripples of change.

In today’s world, impatience has replaced calmness. There is a constant urge to have everything at the snap of a finger. AI and technology have given us information at our fingertips, but the question persists; Is this the right way to progress?

Kushmanda’s story helps us realise calmness and steadiness is important, especially when faced with adversity. It tells us that good things take time, and that everyone grows at their own pace and finds success at their own time. 

This story also tells us that even though it may feel that things are falling apart all around us, we have to trust that there is a larger balance at play, we are but a part of a larger story that is taking place all around us.

In this world full of impatience, turning to Kushmanda on the fourth day of Navratri is like turning towards light, energy, and unlocking your inner strength.

As we worship the Goddess today, perhaps we can ask ourselves a simple question; What helps us maintain faith and trust that there’s a greater plan at work, even when circumstances seem chaotic or unfair?