Kushmanda Devi is worshipped on the fourth day of Navratri. Here's a breakdown of the puja method and mantras to help you perform her puja:
Vedic Origin - As per the religious scriptures, during the ancient times, Maa Shakti created this universe as an Anda which means cosmic egg, just by flashing a splendid smile. Bhimaparvat is the abode of Maa Kushmanda. She is also known as Ashta Bhujadhari – the goddess with eight arms. Maa Kushmanda holds a kamandalu, bow, arrow, lotus, a jar of nectar, discus, and mace in her seven hands, respectively. Whereas, there is a rosary (japa mala) in the eighth hand, which is capable of bestowing the eight Siddhis and nine Nidhis. Lion is the vehicle of Goddess Kushmanda. In the Sanskrit language, the word Kushmanda refers to a Pumpkin, as she likes it the most, as a sacrificial offering. The grace of the Goddesses can overcome all sufferings.
Maa Kushmanda Mantra for the forth day of Navratri:Om Devi Kushmandaye Namah. (Chant it 108 times).
Prasad of the forth day: Malpua and Doodh Paak.
Preparation:
- Cleanse yourself: Take a bath before the puja to purify your body and mind.
- Puja materials:
- Murti (idol) of Maa Kushmanda (ideally made of copper or clay)
- Kalash (pot) with mango leaves placed on top and filled with water
- Diya (oil lamp) with ghee or oil
- Cotton wick
- Kumkum (red powder)
- Haldi (turmeric powder)
- Sindoor (vermillion)
- Akshata (unbroken rice grains)
- Flowers (ideally green or orange)
- Fruits
- Sweets (especially pumpkin dishes like kheer or halwa)
- Betel nut and leaf (paan)
- Coconut
- Incense sticks
- Gangajal (holy water)
- Aasana (seat) made of cloth or durpatta
Puja Vidhi (Method):
- Sthapana (Placement): Spread the aasana in a clean and quiet place. Place the kalash on it, filling it with water and mango leaves. Light the diya with ghee or oil.
- Pranapratishtha (Invoking life force): Chant "Om Apohivam Pavitrava..." while sprinkling Gangajal on yourself, the puja area, and all the puja items.
- Aavahan (Invocation): Invite Maa Kushmanda to reside in the murti by chanting "Om Kushmandayai Namah: Aavahayami."
- Panchamrut Snan (Five Nectar Bath): Prepare Panchamrit by mixing milk, curd, honey, ghee, and sugar. Bathe the murti with Panchamrit, followed by Gangajal.
- Vastra and Abhushan (Clothing and Ornaments): Offer a clean cloth (saree) to the murti. Decorate the murti with kumkum, haldi, and sindoor. Offer flowers and ornaments.
- Pushpa and Patra (Flowers and Leaves): Offer green or orange flowers and betel nut with leaf (paan) to the Devi.
- Naivedya (Offering): Offer fruits, sweets (especially pumpkin dishes), and other vegetarian food items as prasad (offering) to Maa Kushmanda.
- Aarti: Perform aarti with the diya, chanting mantras or devotional songs dedicated to Maa Kushmanda.
- Mantras: Chant the following mantras throughout the puja:
- Om Eem Shreem Aim Kleem Saundaryaayai Namah: This is a Beejak Mantra (seed mantra) for Kushmanda Devi.
- Ya Devi सर्वभूतेषु (Ya Devi Sarva Bhooteshu) Kushmanda रूपेण (Kushmanda रूपेण) संस्थिता (Samस्थिता) ।। नमस्तस्यै (Namastasyai) ।। नमस्तस्यै (Namastasyai) ।। नमस्तस्यै (Namastasyai) ।। नमो नमः (Namo Namah): This mantra translates to "Salutations to the Devi, who resides within all beings in the form of Kushmanda."
- Parikrama (Circumambulation): Walk around the puja area clockwise, circling the murti three times.
- Samapti (Completion): Chant "Om Idam Namastasyai Cha Durgaayai Namah:" Plead for forgiveness for any mistakes made during the puja.
- Prasad Distribution: Distribute the offered fruits, sweets, and food (prasad) as blessings from Maa Kushmanda.
Kushmanda Devi is worshipped on the fourth day of Navratri. Here's a breakdown of the puja method and mantras to help you perform her puja:
Vedic Origin - As per the religious scriptures, during the ancient times, Maa Shakti created this universe as an Anda which means cosmic egg, just by flashing a splendid smile. Bhimaparvat is the abode of Maa Kushmanda. She is also known as Ashta Bhujadhari – the goddess with eight arms. Maa Kushmanda holds a kamandalu, bow, arrow, lotus, a jar of nectar, discus, and mace in her seven hands, respectively. Whereas, there is a rosary (japa mala) in the eighth hand, which is capable of bestowing the eight Siddhis and nine Nidhis. Lion is the vehicle of Goddess Kushmanda. In the Sanskrit language, the word Kushmanda refers to a Pumpkin, as she likes it the most, as a sacrificial offering. The grace of the Goddesses can overcome all sufferings.
Maa Kushmanda Mantra for the forth day of Navratri:Om Devi Kushmandaye Namah. (Chant it 108 times).
Prasad of the forth day: Malpua and Doodh Paak.
Preparation:
- Cleanse yourself: Take a bath before the puja to purify your body and mind.
- Puja materials:
- Murti (idol) of Maa Kushmanda (ideally made of copper or clay)
- Kalash (pot) with mango leaves placed on top and filled with water
- Diya (oil lamp) with ghee or oil
- Cotton wick
- Kumkum (red powder)
- Haldi (turmeric powder)
- Sindoor (vermillion)
- Akshata (unbroken rice grains)
- Flowers (ideally green or orange)
- Fruits
- Sweets (especially pumpkin dishes like kheer or halwa)
- Betel nut and leaf (paan)
- Coconut
- Incense sticks
- Gangajal (holy water)
- Aasana (seat) made of cloth or durpatta
Puja Vidhi (Method):
- Sthapana (Placement): Spread the aasana in a clean and quiet place. Place the kalash on it, filling it with water and mango leaves. Light the diya with ghee or oil.
- Pranapratishtha (Invoking life force): Chant "Om Apohivam Pavitrava..." while sprinkling Gangajal on yourself, the puja area, and all the puja items.
- Aavahan (Invocation): Invite Maa Kushmanda to reside in the murti by chanting "Om Kushmandayai Namah: Aavahayami."
- Panchamrut Snan (Five Nectar Bath): Prepare Panchamrit by mixing milk, curd, honey, ghee, and sugar. Bathe the murti with Panchamrit, followed by Gangajal.
- Vastra and Abhushan (Clothing and Ornaments): Offer a clean cloth (saree) to the murti. Decorate the murti with kumkum, haldi, and sindoor. Offer flowers and ornaments.
- Pushpa and Patra (Flowers and Leaves): Offer green or orange flowers and betel nut with leaf (paan) to the Devi.
- Naivedya (Offering): Offer fruits, sweets (especially pumpkin dishes), and other vegetarian food items as prasad (offering) to Maa Kushmanda.
- Aarti: Perform aarti with the diya, chanting mantras or devotional songs dedicated to Maa Kushmanda.
- Mantras: Chant the following mantras throughout the puja:
- Om Eem Shreem Aim Kleem Saundaryaayai Namah: This is a Beejak Mantra (seed mantra) for Kushmanda Devi.
- Ya Devi सर्वभूतेषु (Ya Devi Sarva Bhooteshu) Kushmanda रूपेण (Kushmanda रूपेण) संस्थिता (Samस्थिता) ।। नमस्तस्यै (Namastasyai) ।। नमस्तस्यै (Namastasyai) ।। नमस्तस्यै (Namastasyai) ।। नमो नमः (Namo Namah): This mantra translates to "Salutations to the Devi, who resides within all beings in the form of Kushmanda."
- Parikrama (Circumambulation): Walk around the puja area clockwise, circling the murti three times.
- Samapti (Completion): Chant "Om Idam Namastasyai Cha Durgaayai Namah:" Plead for forgiveness for any mistakes made during the puja.
- Prasad Distribution: Distribute the offered fruits, sweets, and food (prasad) as blessings from Maa Kushmanda.
माँ कूष्माण्डा के मंत्र:
माँ कूष्माण्डा के मंत्र और जाप विधि:
मां कूष्मांडा, मां दुर्गा के नौ रूपों में से एक है, जिनकी पूजा नवरात्र के चौथे दिन की जाती है। मां कूष्मांडा को ब्रह्मांड की निर्माता कहा जाता है।
मां कूष्मांडा को सृष्टि की आदि स्वरूपा यानी आदिशक्ति कहते हैं। मां दुर्गा के इस स्वरूप का निवास सूर्यमंडल के भीतर के लोक में है।
मां कूष्माण्डा की उपासना से भक्तों के समस्त रोग मिट जाते हैं। मां के इस स्वरूप की भक्ति से आयु, यश, बल और आरोग्य की वृद्धि होती है।
मां कूष्मांडा के स्वयं सिद्ध बीज मंत्र:
माँ कूष्माण्डा का पूजन मंत्र:
सुरासम्पूर्णकलशं, रुधिराप्लुतमेव च। दधाना हस्तपद्माभ्यां, कूष्मांडा शुभदास्तु मे।।
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु माँ कूष्माण्डा रूपेण संस्थिता। नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नम:।।
जाप विधि:
मां कुष्मांडा के बीज मंत्रों का जाप एक माला यानी 108 बार करना चाहिए। मां कूष्माण्डा के बीज मंत्रों का जाप करने से आप जीवन में हमेशा उन्नति की ओर अग्रसर होते हैं।
मां दुर्गा अपने कूष्मांडा स्वरूप में सात हाथों में कमंडल, धनुष-बाण, कमल-पुष्प, अमृतपूर्ण कलश, चक्र और गदा धारण किए हुए हैं।
मां के आठवें हाथ में सभी सिद्धियों को देने वाली जपमाला है। मां कूष्मांडा की पूजा अर्चना से सभी प्रकार के रोग और शारीरिक परेशानियां दूर होती है।
मां कूष्मांडा अपने भक्तों की थोड़ी सी भक्ति से भी प्रसन्न हो जाती हैं, और यश-बल और समृद्धि का आशीर्वाद देती हैं।
