Maa Kushmanda is the fourth of the nine Navadurga forms and the Navratri Day 4 goddess. In 2026, devotees worship her on Wednesday, 14 October, on Ashwin Shukla Chaturthi. Her name points to the cosmic egg she shaped with a warm smile. She has eight arms and rides a lion. Devotees wear royal blue, offer malpua, and chant Om Devi Kushmandayai Namah.
The first three days of Navratri gave us footing. Maa Shailputri gave us grounding. Maa Brahmacharini taught discipline. And, Maa Chandraghanta lent us courage.
Then, on the fourth morning, the story steps back. It goes to a time before the sun, before the stars, before time itself. There was only darkness. And in that darkness, a goddess smiled.
Devotees call her Maa Kushmanda, the cosmic creator. Why do we worship the source of everything on Day 4 and not Day 1? And if she made it all, why do we have so many gods? This guide answers both questions with scripture.
It also covers the Maa Kushmanda story and the Maa Kushmanda puja vidhi. You will also find her mantra, bhog, aarti, and Day 4 colour. Each answer comes first, and the source follows.
Key Takeaways
- Maa Kushmanda is the fourth Navadurga form and the Navratri Day 4 goddess.
- Her name joins ku (little), ushma (warmth), and anda (egg).
- She has eight arms, rides a lion, and holds a pot of amrit.
- The Navratri Day 4 colour for 2026 is royal blue.
- The Navratri Day 4 bhog is malpua.
- Chant the Maa Kushmanda mantra, then sing her aarti after the bhog.
Navratri Day 4 at a Glance
| Detail | Answer |
| Goddess | Maa Kushmanda, fourth of the nine Navadurga |
| Navratri day and date | Day 4, Wednesday, 14 October 2026 (Ashwin Shukla Chaturthi) |
| Maa Kushmanda colour | Royal blue (Wednesday) |
| Mount | Lion |
| Arms | Eight (Ashtabhuja) |
| Navratri Day 4 bhog | Malpua, curd, and halwa |
| Navratri Day 4 mantra (simple chant) | Om Devi Kushmandayai Namah |
| Maa Kushmanda dhyan mantra | Vande vanchhita kamartham chandrardha-krita-shekharam |
| Tradition links her with | The Sun (Surya) and the Anahata chakra |
| Scripture for her place in the nine forms | Devi Kavacha, verses 3 to 5 |
Important note: Always confirm the Chaturthi tithi timing with your local panchang.
Who Is Maa Kushmanda? Name, Arms and Lion
Maa Kushmanda is the creator form of Adi Shakti, worshipped on the fourth day of Navratri. The Devi Kavacha lists her fourth among the Navadurga.
कूष्मांडा नाम का अर्थ: why is she called Kushmanda?
The name Kushmanda has three parts. Ku means little, ushma means warmth, and anda means egg. So the name describes the Devi who shaped the cosmic egg with gentle warmth. {कूष्मांडा नाम का अर्थ हिंदी में है: कु (थोड़ा), ऊष्मा (गर्मी), और अंड (ब्रह्मांड रूपी अंडा)}.
Kushmanda is also the Sanskrit word for pumpkin. Some traditions offer a pumpkin to the Devi as a sacrifice.
The Devi Kavacha preserves her name and order:
Panchamam Skandamateti, shashtham Katyayaniti cha.
Tritiyam Chandraghanteti, Kushmandeti chaturthakam.
How many arms does Maa Kushmanda have, and what does she hold?
Maa Kushmanda has eight arms, so devotees also call her Ashtabhuja Devi. The Maa Kushmanda dhyan mantra lists seven objects. They are a kamandalu, bow, arrow, lotus, pot of nectar, chakra, and mace. Her eighth hand holds a japa mala.
| Object | How teachers read it (interpretation) |
| Kamandalu | Self-control and simple living |
| Bow and arrow | Focused will |
| Lotus | Purity that grows even in mud |
| Amrit kalash (pot of nectar) | Life, vitality, and renewal |
| Chakra | The turning cycle of time |
| Gada (mace) | Strength to protect dharma |
| Japa mala | Devotion that grants spiritual gains |
Why does Maa Kushmanda ride a lion?
Maa Kushmanda rides a lion because the lion is the Devi’s traditional mount. In the Devi Mahatmya, chapter 2, Himavan gifts Devi a lion. Preachers read the lion as courage and dharma. In her creator form, it shows that creation and protection walk together.
Maa Kushmanda Katha: How a Smile Created the Universe?
This Maa Kushmanda story comes from devotional tradition. Scripture supports its setting and its themes, but no text cited here narrates the whole scene. The notes below mark which is which.
The Maa Kushmanda story in brief
In the devotional telling, there was once only darkness. A sublime light rose from the void and took a feminine form. She smiled gently, and the smile spread warmth and light. That light shaped the cosmic egg, the Brahmanda.
From the Brahmanda came planets, universes, life, and time. Then she placed her energy in the Sun, so that it could glow forever.
Before creation: the dark void
The Rigveda seers describe the same void. They call it darkness hidden in darkness:
Tama asit tamasa gulham agre.
In the beginning, darkness lay hidden in darkness.
Rigveda 10.129.3 (Nasadiya Sukta), translation summarised
The hymn does not name Maa Kushmanda. It sets the scene that her devotional story fills. Tradition calls this moment the Kalpanta, the end of a kalpa. The old world rests, and nothing stirs.
The smile and the cosmic egg
The Devi Mahatmya also credits the Devi with creation. In chapter 1, Brahma praises her:
त्वयैतद्धार्यते विश्वं त्वयैतत्सृज्यते जगत् ।
त्वयैतत्पाल्यते देवि त्वमस्यान्ते च सर्वदा ॥
Tvayaitad dhāryate viśvaṃ tvayaitat sṛjyate jagat |
Tvayaitat pālyate devi tvam asyānte ca sarvadā ||
“By You this universe is sustained; by You this world is created. By You, O Devi, this world is protected, and at its end, You [withdraw/dissolve it].”
Devi Mahatmya / Durga Saptashati, Chapter 1.72
The Devi Mahatmya does not name Kushmanda in this scene. Devotional tradition gives the creator Devi her name and her smile.
The three Mahashaktis and the trinity
Devotional tradition says Maa Kushmanda brought forth Mahalakshmi, Mahasaraswati, and Mahakali. These three then brought forth Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiv.
The texts support parts of this chain. The Pradhanika Rahasya, an appendix to the Saptashati, describes Mahalakshmi bringing forth Mahakali and Mahasaraswati. The Devi Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 3, teaches that the trinity arises from Shakti. Linking these to Maa Kushmanda is a devotional identification.
What the Maa Kushmanda katha teaches
Her katha teaches that a smile can start a world. Warmth comes before force. Creation begins gently. Rishis and reformers draws this reading from the story. It is an interpretation, not a scriptural quote.
Some readers compare the story to modern cosmology and even big bang theory. But this guide does not. Devotional imagery and physics answer different questions.
Why Is Maa Kushmanda Associated With the Sun?
Devotional tradition says Maa Kushmanda lives inside the Sun’s orb. Her radiance gives the Sun its glow. The dhyan mantra supports the image. It describes her glow as bright as the radiant sun.
The Rigveda treats the Sun with the same reverence. It names the Sun the soul of all that moves and all that stands still:
चित्रं देवानामुदगादनीकं चक्षुर्मित्रस्य वरुणस्याग्नेः ।
आप्रा द्यावापृथिवी अन्तरिक्षं सूर्य आत्मा जगतस्तस्थुषश्च ॥
The Sun is the soul of all that moves and all that stands. (Translation is summarised)
Ṛgveda 1.115.1, Mandala 1, Sukta 115, Mantra 1
So Maa Kushmanda’s link to the Sun carries a simple message. Light and life come from one source.
If Maa Kushmanda Is the Source of Everything, Why Do We Have So Many Gods?
The texts answer that one Reality takes many names. The seer Dirghatamas (an ancient Hindu sage known for his philosophical verses in the Rigveda) says this in the Rigveda:
Ekam sad vipra bahudha vadanti.
Truth is one. The wise call it by many names.
Rigveda 1.164.46 (seer Dirghatamas)
The Devi Sukta takes the same idea further. In it, the seer Vak Ambhrini speaks as the Devi herself. She says she breathes forth all the worlds like the wind.
Aham eva vata iva pra vamy arabhamana bhuvanani vishva.
Rigveda 10.125.8 (Devi Sukta, seer Vak Ambhrini)
So the many gods do not compete with Maa Kushmanda. Tradition reads them as her many faces. This reading is an interpretation.
If you want to know more about Hindu gods, then read our scripture based detail blog: God in Hinduism Explained: One God, Many Gods, or Ultimate Reality?
Which Goddess Do Devotees Worship on the Fourth Day of Navratri?
Devotees worship Maa Kushmanda on the fourth day of Navratri. The Devi Kavacha lists her fourth, and the Chaturthi tithi marks the fourth day.
Why not Day 1, if she is the source of all? Devotees say the first three days prepare the seeker. Maa Shailputri gives grounding, Maa Brahmacharini gives discipline, and Maa Chandraghanta gives courage. Then the seeker is ready for light.
This reading is an interpretation. The order of the names itself comes from the Devi Kavacha. Anyone who asks which Navratri Day 4 goddess to worship will find the same answer.
Maa Kushmanda Puja Vidhi: How to Worship at Home
Begin with a tidy puja space and a warm heart. Then offer flowers, malpua, mantra, and aarti. This Navratri Day 4 puja vidhi follows a common North Indian method, and families adapt it.
What should you offer Maa Kushmanda during puja?
- The kalash and barley tray from Ghatasthapana
- An image or murti of Maa Kushmanda or Maa Durga
- Flowers, roli, akshat, and chandan
- A ghee diya, incense, and camphor
- Malpua, curd, halwa, and fruit for bhog
Which flowers should you offer Maa Kushmanda?
Yellow marigold and red hibiscus are popular offerings. Blue aparajita flowers match the royal blue of the day. Choose fresh, fragrant flowers. No primary text cited here fixes the flower.
Step-by-step Maa Kushmanda puja vidhi
- Bathe before sunrise and wear clean royal blue or yellow clothes.
- Water the barley, refill the diya, and clear the puja space.
- Place an image or murti of Maa Kushmanda beside the kalash.
- Invoke Shri Ganesh first. Then take a sankalp, a spoken resolve to complete the puja.
- Offer flowers, roli, akshat, and chandan to Maa.
- Light a ghee diya and show incense.
- Recite the dhyan mantra, then chant the mantra 108 times.
- Offer malpua or another sweet as bhog.
- Perform aarti, then share the prasad with the family.
Can you worship Maa Kushmanda without fasting?
Yes absolutely. Puja does not require a fast. The Navratri Day 4 puja vidhi stays the same either way. Fasting is a personal vow that families choose. Bhagavad Gita 6.16 warns against both over-eating and over-fasting. People with health conditions should ask a doctor before fasting.
What should you do on the fourth day of Navratri?
- Wear royal blue or yellow and begin the day with Maa’s puja.
- Light the diya at sunrise and again at dusk.
- Offer malpua and share it as prasad.
- Follow the Navratri Day 4 puja vidhi above, in your own way.
- Read or listen to the Maa Kushmanda katha with the family.
Maa Kushmanda Mantra: Dhyan Mantra, Beej Mantra and Prayer
The Maa Kushmanda mantra comes in five forms. The Navratri Day 4 mantra you choose depends on your practice.
ॐ देवी कूष्माण्डायै नमः॥
Om Devi Kushmandayai Namah.
Repeat it 108 times with a mala, or as often as you can. This Navratri Day 4 mantra needs no guru’s initiation, so every devotee can use it.
Maa Kushmanda dhyan mantra (माँ कूष्माण्डा ध्यान मंत्र)
वन्दे वाञ्छितकामार्थं चन्द्रार्धकृतशेखराम्।
सिंहारूढा अष्टभुजा कूष्माण्डा यशस्विनीम्॥
भास्वरभानुनिभां अनाहतस्थितां चतुर्थदुर्गां त्रिनेत्राम्।
कमण्डलुचापबाणपद्मसुधाकलशचक्रगदाजपवटीधराम्॥
Vande vanchhita kamartham chandrardha-krita-shekharam.
Simharudha ashtabhuja Kushmanda yashasvinim.
Bhasvara-bhanu-nibham anahata-sthitam chaturtha-durgam trinetram.
Kamandalu-chapa-bana-padma-sudha-kalasha-chakra-gada-japa-vati-dharam.
Her dhyan mantra means this: I bow to Maa Kushmanda, who fulfils desired aims and wears a half-moon as her crest. She rides a lion, has eight arms, and shines with glory. Her glow matches the radiant sun, and she dwells at the Anahata chakra. She has three eyes. Her hands hold a kamandalu, bow, arrow, lotus, nectar pot, chakra, mace, and japa mala.
Beej mantra (माँ कूष्माण्डा बीज मंत्र)
ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं कूष्माण्डायै नमः॥
Om Aim Hreem Kleem Kushmandayai Namah.
Many traditions advise taking beej mantras from a guru. If you have no guru, use the simple chant above.
Prarthana (माँ कूष्माण्डा प्रार्थना)
सुरासम्पूर्णकलशं रुधिराप्लुतमेव च।
दधाना हस्तपद्माभ्यां कूष्माण्डा शुभदास्तु मे॥
Sura-sampurna-kalasham rudhira-aplutam eva cha.
Dadhana hasta-padmabhyam Kushmanda shubhada astu me.
The prayer asks Maa Kushmanda to bring me good fortune. She holds the pot in her lotus hands. The words sura and rudhira literally mean liquor and blood. Devotional readers take them as symbols of nectar and life-force. This reading is an interpretation.
Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Mantra
You can also chant a Devi Mahatmya refrain for radiance:
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु कान्तिरूपेण संस्थिता।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥
Yā Devī Sarvabhūteṣu Kāntirūpeṇa Saṃsthitā
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namaḥ.
Meaning: To the Goddess who abides in all beings as radiance, I bow again and again.
Devi Mahatmya Chapter 5, verses 53–55
Maa Kushmanda Bhog: What to Offer on Day 4 of Navratri
Offer malpua to Maa Kushmanda. Tradition names it as her favourite bhog. No primary text cited here prescribes the Maa Kushmanda bhog, so it rests on devotional tradition. The Navratri Day 4 bhog also includes curd, halwa, and fruit.
Traditional offerings:
- Malpua, the signature offering
- Curd and halwa
- Petha, the sweet made from ash gourd (kushmanda)
- Seasonal fruit
Devotees believe the sweet bhog brings health and a clear mind. This is a devotional belief, not medical advice.
Bhog for fasting households
Keep the Maa Kushmanda bhog simple if your family fasts. Offer makhana kheer, sabudana kheer, or fruit. Use rock salt, never table salt, in any savoury offering. People with diabetes should take only a small taste of prasad.
Maa Kushmanda Aarti
Devotees sing the Maa Kushmanda aarti after the bhog, with a lit ghee diya. The aarti praises her smile, her eight arms, and her light that fills the worlds.
माँ कूष्मांडा की आरती
॥ आरती देवी कूष्माण्डा जी की ॥
कूष्माण्डा जय जग सुखदानी।
मुझ पर दया करो महारानी॥
पिङ्गला ज्वालामुखी निराली।
शाकम्बरी माँ भोली भाली॥
लाखों नाम निराले तेरे।
भक्त कई मतवाले तेरे॥
भीमा पर्वत पर है डेरा।
स्वीकारो प्रणाम ये मेरा॥
सबकी सुनती हो जगदम्बे।
सुख पहुँचाती हो माँ अम्बे॥
तेरे दर्शन का मैं प्यासा।
पूर्ण कर दो मेरी आशा॥
माँ के मन में ममता भारी।
क्यों ना सुनेगी अरज हमारी॥
तेरे दर पर किया है डेरा।
दूर करो माँ संकट मेरा॥
मेरे कारज पूरे कर दो।
मेरे तुम भण्डारे भर दो॥
तेरा दास तुझे ही ध्याये।
भक्त तेरे दर शीश झुकाये॥
॥ जय माँ कूष्माण्डा ॥
How to perform the Maa Kushmanda aarti?
Ring a small bell and fold your hands. Move the lit diya in a clockwise circle before the image of Maa. Keep singing until the circle ends. Then bow, take the prasad, and share it with everyone present.
Maa Kushmanda Colour: Navratri Day 4 Colour in 2026
The Navratri Day 4 colour in 2026 is royal blue. The colour follows the weekday, and 14 October is a Wednesday. This is also the Maa Kushmanda colour for the day.
| Year | Day 4 date | Weekday | Colour |
| 2025 | 25 September | Thursday | Yellow |
| 2026 | 14 October | Wednesday | Royal blue |
No scripture prescribes this colour, so the custom is modern and optional. Last year’s Day 4 fell on a Thursday, so yellow was the weekday colour. Many devotees still wear yellow to honour her sunlight. Both choices work. Royal blue echoes the sky she filled with light, though that is an interpretation.
What Devotees Pray for on Day 4 of Navratri?
Devotees pray to Maa Kushmanda for good health, steady energy, and a positive outlook. These are devotional beliefs. They are not medical claims, and worship does not replace medical care.
Astrological and chakra associations
Jyotish tradition links Maa Kushmanda with the Sun (Surya). Yogic and tantric traditions link her with the Anahata chakra, the heart chakra. The dhyan mantra names this chakra. These are traditional associations, not scientific claims.
Four Myths People Often Mix Up About Maa Kushmanda
- Myth: The Devi Mahatmya narrates Maa Kushmanda creating the universe. Fact: It credits the Devi with creation but does not tell this scene.
- Myth: Her story matches the Big Bang. Fact: Devotional imagery and physics answer different questions.
- Myth: Yellow is her fixed colour every year. Fact: The Day 4 colour follows the weekday.
- Myth: Kushmanda only means pumpkin. Fact: The name also carries the sense of warmth and the cosmic egg.
Conclusion: Begin With a Smile
On the morning of 14 October, Maa Kushmanda asks for something small. She asks for a smile, a little warmth, and a lit diya. Even when life feels heavy, a smile can create worlds. Tomorrow, on 15 October, we meet Maa Skandamata. She carries little Kartikeya in her lap. Why do devotees call her the Mother of the Warrior God? What does it mean when divinity takes the form of pure motherhood? Read the Day 5 guide to find out.
FAQs About Maa Kushmanda and Day 4 of Navratri
Yes. Maa Kushmanda can be worshipped in the evening or at night if you cannot perform the puja in the morning. Navratri worship is not limited to one universal clock time. Follow your family tradition or local panchang for any specific puja muhurat.
Yes. You can worship Maa Kushmanda without a separate idol or photo by meditating on her form, chanting ॐ देवी कूष्माण्डायै नमः॥, offering a diya and flowers, and praying with devotion. A picture or murti can be used if available, but it is not necessary for a simple home puja.
There is no single universally prescribed list of things that every devotee must avoid on Maa Kushmanda Day. If you are observing a Navratri vrat, follow the food and conduct rules of your family or sampradaya. For regular puja, cleanliness, respectful conduct and sincere devotion matter more than following a long list of internet-made restrictions.
Yes. You can chant the Maa Kushmanda mantra without a mala. A mala is useful for keeping count, but it is not required for a simple devotional practice. You can chant ॐ देवी कूष्माण्डायै नमः॥ 11, 21 or 108 times, or according to your usual practice.
Yes, in the Navadurga tradition, Maa Kushmanda is one of the nine forms of Maa Durga. She is worshipped as the fourth form during Navratri. The Devi Kavacha lists Kushmanda as the fourth name in the sequence of the nine forms.
Maa Chandraghanta is the third Navadurga form, while Maa Kushmanda is the fourth. Chandraghanta is traditionally associated with courage and a warrior aspect of Devi, whereas Kushmanda is associated with creation, light and cosmic energy. The Devi Kavacha places Chandraghanta third and Kushmanda fourth in the Navadurga sequence.
Yes. Children can participate in Maa Kushmanda puja by offering flowers, lighting a diya with adult supervision, listening to the katha or chanting a simple mantra. They do not need to observe a strict fast or perform elaborate rituals to take part in Navratri worship.
Yes. Malpua is a popular traditional bhog for Maa Kushmanda, but it is not a compulsory offering for every household. Families may offer other sweets, fruits or fasting-friendly preparations according to their tradition. Your blog already correctly notes that the specific bhog is based on devotional tradition rather than a primary scriptural prescription.
The Maa Kushmanda Beej Mantra is traditionally used in devotional and mantra practices, but practices involving bija mantras can differ between traditions and lineages. If your family or guru has given you a specific mantra or method, follow that practice. For a simple, non-initiatory prayer, ॐ देवी कूष्माण्डायै नमः॥ is the more straightforward option.
If you miss the usual puja time, you can worship Maa Kushmanda later in the day by lighting a diya, offering flowers or bhog, chanting her mantra and performing aarti. If a particular muhurat was missed, you do not need to abandon the day’s worship altogether. For tithi-specific rituals, follow your local panchang and family tradition.
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