Mā Kūṣmāṇḍā | The Divine Mother Whose Smile Brings Forth the Universe
October 14, 2026
Jai Ma!
Today we arrive at the fourth day of Navaratri, and with it, we enter a beautiful new chapter of our celebration of the Divine Mother.
For the first three days, we honored Mā Kālī, the vast, mysterious Mother from whom all things arise and into whom all things eventually dissolve. We contemplated beginnings, devotion, courage, and the willingness to recognize and release what no longer serves us.
Now, following the tradition passed down through our lineage, we turn toward Mā Lakshmi for the next three days.
Lakshmi is so often associated with wealth and prosperity, and while these are certainly among Her blessings, I find Her presence invites us to contemplate abundance in a much deeper way.
The abundance of life itself.
The nourishment that sustains us.
The beauty that surrounds us.
The creative energy through which the Divine continually expresses Herself.
And what a beautiful way to begin these three days, through the fourth of the Navadurga, Mā Kūṣmāṇḍā (Maa Kushmanda), the radiant Mother whose divine smile is said to have brought the universe into existence.
Who Is Maa Kushmanda, the Fourth Goddess of Navaratri?
The name Kūṣmāṇḍā is often interpreted in devotional traditions through three elements: Ku, referring to something small; Uṣma, meaning warmth or energy; and Aṇḍa, meaning egg.
Together, these are understood as referring to the cosmic egg, the universe brought into manifestation through the creative energy of the Divine Mother.
The word kūṣmāṇḍa also refers to the ash gourd, a plant that holds a place in traditional offerings to this form of the Goddess.
According to a beloved devotional account, before creation there was only darkness.
There was no Sun, no Moon, no stars, no Earth, and none of the countless forms through which we experience existence.
And then, through the gentle smile of Mā Kūṣmāṇḍā, the universe came into being.
Just imagine that for a moment.
Not through struggle.
Not through force.
But through the effortless radiance of the Divine Mother.
A smile.
And from that smile, creation unfolds.
She is associated with the Sun, whose light and warmth sustain life, and is revered as the source of the energy through which the universe exists.
Of course, these sacred stories are not simply descriptions of physical events. They invite us into a deeper contemplation of the Divine, of creation, and of the mysterious source from which all existence arises.
And perhaps they invite us to remember that the creative power of the Divine Mother is not limited to some distant beginning.
Creation is happening all around us, in every moment.
The Symbols of Maa Kushmanda and Their Spiritual Meaning
Mā Kūṣmāṇḍā is traditionally depicted with eight arms, earning Her the name Aṣṭabhujā Devī, the eight-armed Goddess.
She is often shown riding a lion and surrounded by radiant golden light.
Each aspect of Her appearance offers something for us to contemplate.
Her eight arms represent Her divine power and ability to sustain and guide creation in its many expressions.
Her lion symbolizes courage, strength, and the majesty of the Divine Mother. Even as She embodies the gentle energy of creation, Her power is immeasurable.
Her radiant presence reflects Her association with the Sun and the life-giving energy that nourishes the universe.
Her water vessel, or kamaṇḍalu, reminds us of purity, simplicity, and the sustaining presence of water.
Her bow and arrow represent focused energy, determination, and the power to direct divine action.
Her lotus is a symbol of purity, spiritual unfolding, and beauty emerging from the world of experience.
Her rosary, or japa mālā, is associated with prayer, mantra, and spiritual practice. In traditional descriptions, Her rosary is also associated with the bestowal of spiritual attainments and blessings.
Her vessel of nectar, or amṛta, represents divine nourishment and the life-sustaining blessings of the Mother.
Her traditional iconography also includes a mace and discus, symbols of divine power and protection.
When I look at Mā Kūṣmāṇḍā, I see a beautiful reminder that the energy which creates and nourishes life is also powerful enough to protect it.
She is radiant, generous, and overflowing with creative possibility.
And yet, like all the forms of the Divine Mother, She is not separate from the stillness, mystery, and vastness from which everything arises.
Mā Lakshmi and the Sacred Meaning of Abundance
As we begin these three days dedicated to Mā Lakshmi, I find myself contemplating what abundance really means.
We live in a world where abundance is so often measured by what we possess.
How much money we have.
How much we accomplish.
How much we produce.
How much we can accumulate.
And yet, when we look toward the Divine Mother, abundance begins to take on an entirely different meaning.
There is abundance in the warmth of sunlight on our faces.
In the food that nourishes our bodies.
In the earth beneath our feet.
In the relationships that sustain us.
In the quiet moments when we feel deeply connected to life, to ourselves, and to God.
This does not mean that material prosperity is somehow separate from spiritual life, or that we must reject the comforts and blessings of the world.
Mā Lakshmi is, after all, honored as the Goddess of prosperity, beauty, good fortune, and well-being.
But perhaps Her blessings invite us to recognize that abundance is much larger than accumulation.
It is also the capacity to receive.
To appreciate.
To nourish and be nourished.
To participate in life with gratitude, generosity, and openness.
And Mā Kūṣmāṇḍā, whose smile brings forth creation, offers us such a beautiful image of this overflowing divine generosity.
The universe itself becomes an expression of the Mother's abundance.
How to Celebrate Navaratri Day 4 and Honor Maa Kushmanda at Home
Throughout Navaratri, devotees honor the Divine Mother through prayer, mantra, offerings, fasting, meditation, and pūjā.
Today, we might approach Mā Kūṣmāṇḍā through gratitude, creativity, nourishment, and an awareness of the abundance already present in our lives.
There is no need for an elaborate ritual. A sincere offering, made with love, can be a beautiful way to begin.
Light a lamp or candle. As you watch the flame, contemplate the warmth and light of the Divine Mother, whose energy sustains all of creation.
Offer flowers, fruit, or something prepared with love. The ash gourd, known as kūṣmāṇḍa, is traditionally associated with this form of the Goddess. Sweet foods and other simple offerings are also common in devotional practice.
Wear Yellow. Yellow is associated with the fourth day in the popular 2026 Navaratri nine-color sequence. It beautifully reflects warmth, optimism, nourishment, and the golden radiance of Mā Kūṣmāṇḍā.
Practice gratitude. Take a few moments to recognize the many ways life is already supporting you. Perhaps write down three things for which you feel genuinely grateful, not because you believe you should be grateful, but because you have taken the time to notice them.
Create something. Prepare a meal, tend a garden, arrange flowers, sing, write, or simply bring loving attention to something you are making. Allow the act of creation itself to become an offering to Ma.
Offer nourishment. Feed someone, care for an animal, tend a plant, or offer kindness to a person who needs it. In nourishing another, we participate in the beautiful movement of giving and receiving that sustains life.
And perhaps today, we might also give ourselves permission to receive.
Not everything must be earned through exhaustion.
Not every moment must be productive.
Sometimes the most sacred thing we can do is recognize the blessings already being offered.
Maa Kushmanda Mantra for Navaratri Day 4
Om Devī Kūṣmāṇḍāyai Namaḥ
ॐ देवी कूष्माण्डायै नमः॥
Salutations to the Goddess Kūṣmāṇḍā.
You may repeat this mantra nine, twenty-seven, or 108 times, or simply offer it once with your whole heart.
As you repeat Her name, perhaps contemplate the radiant presence of the Divine Mother, the warmth of the Sun, and the creative energy that continually brings life into being.
You might sit quietly for a few moments afterward, allowing yourself to rest in the awareness that you, too, are part of this extraordinary creation.
A Moment of Reflection — Remembering the Abundance of Life
There is something about the story of Mā Kūṣmāṇḍā that I find especially moving.
The idea that the universe begins with a smile.
I think about how often we approach creation in our own lives as something difficult.
Something we must push toward.
Something that requires constant effort, determination, and struggle.
We want to build something meaningful, create something beautiful, or bring something new into our lives, and so often we begin by asking ourselves how much harder we need to work.
But what if creation could also arise from joy?
What if some of the most beautiful things we bring into this world emerge not because we have forced them into existence, but because we have allowed ourselves to become open to them?
I do not mean that meaningful creation never requires effort. Of course it does.
We have just spent a day contemplating the extraordinary devotion and discipline of Mā Brahmachāriṇī.
But perhaps there is a difference between devoted effort and the belief that everything worthwhile must come through struggle.
Perhaps there is room for both discipline and ease.
For commitment and joy.
For intention and surrender.
When I contemplate Mā Kūṣmāṇḍā, I find myself wondering how much of our creative energy becomes lost when we are constantly measuring ourselves against what we have not yet accomplished.
How often do we overlook the beauty of what is already growing because we are so focused on what has not yet bloomed?
How often do we forget that simply being alive is itself an extraordinary participation in creation?
As we begin these three days dedicated to Mā Lakshmi, perhaps we can allow ourselves to reconsider our relationship with abundance.
Not by pretending that our needs and challenges do not exist.
Not by convincing ourselves that everything is perfect.
But by becoming more aware of the ways in which life is continually giving, receiving, changing, and renewing itself.
Perhaps today we can ask ourselves:
Where in my life am I experiencing abundance that I have not fully recognized?
What am I longing to create, and can I approach that creation with more joy and less struggle?
Am I allowing myself to receive the nourishment, beauty, and support that life offers?
And perhaps most importantly:
What might change if I began to see my own life as an expression of the Divine Mother's creative energy?
Today, we honor Mā Kūṣmāṇḍā, the radiant Mother whose gentle smile is said to have brought forth the universe.
May She remind us that creation is sacred.
That nourishment is sacred.
That joy, beauty, and abundance are not separate from our spiritual lives.
May we recognize Her presence in the warmth of the Sun, in the food that sustains us, in the beauty of the natural world, and in the quiet creative impulses stirring within our own hearts.
And may we remember that we do not stand outside the miracle of creation.
We are living within it.
Jai Ma!
