Kushmanda

Kushmanda Devi is the fourth manifestation of Goddess Durga and is worshipped on the fourth day of the Navratri festival (nine nights of Nava Durga). Her name represents her significance: "Ku" (little), "ushma" (energy or warmth), and "anda" (cosmic egg); basically, it means that with her divine smile, she created the entire universe in the form of a cosmic egg. Smaanda Devi, Adi Shakti, and Ashtabhuja Devi are other names for Goddess Kushmanda.

Appearance

The Goddess, riding on a lion (which represents Dharma) and shining like a glowing Sun, has eight hands (hence the name Ashta bhuja) and holds a discus, an arrow, a bow, a sword, a mace, a lotus, and a jar of honey. Her eighth hand is holding a rosary, which she uses to bestow Ashta Siddhis (eight types of wisdom) and Navasiddhis on her devotees (eight-types of wealth).

Her followers believe she improves their health and grants them wealth and strength. As a result, on the fourth day of Navaratri, devotees keep their minds in spiritual practise, worshipping her to improve one's health and strength, giving true knowledge, destroying negative ego's/habits, and bowing to her with forgiveness. She is the first and only being in the universe, as well as its sole creator.

Legend

Lord Vishnu created the entire universe with the assistance of Devi Kushmanda. She created the universe in the shape of an egg with her small and divine smile when there was no creation and only darkness in every direction. Her divine smile blossomed, illuminating the entire universe in all directions like sun rays. She is known as Adi Shakti because she created the universe in the form of an egg or anda. According to legend, she directs the Sun God, Surya, by providing brightness and illumination through her luminosity, and thus she resides in the core of Surya. Her body shines with a golden complexion and a gleaming face. She removes all sorrows and sufferings from your life and bestows strength and prosperity.