कूष्माण्डा माता मंत्र, आरती, कवच स्तोत्र - Kushmanda Devi Mantra, Aarti, Kavach, Stotra Sanskrit Lyrics
Goddess Kushmanda, the fourth form of Navadurga, has a powerful and luminous origin. After manifesting as Siddhidatri, Goddess Parvati assumed the form of Kushmanda. She resides in the very core of the Sun (Surya Mandala), radiating boundless cosmic energy. Her divine body glows like the Sun itself, which is why she is worshipped as the deity who holds the power to dwell within the Sun and liberate universal energy. The name Kushmanda comes from three Sanskrit roots: ku (little), ushma (warmth, energy), and anda (cosmic egg), symbolizing her role as the origin of the universe from a small warm cosmic egg.
Goddess Kushmanda is often shown as Ashtabhuja Devi (eight-armed goddess), riding a lion (or tiger in some depictions), symbolizing strength, courage, and righteousness. In her hands she holds: - Right hands: Kamandal (sacred water pot), Bow (Dhanush), Arrow, Lotus (Kamal) - Left hands: Amrit Kalash (nectar pot), Jap Mala (rosary), Gada (mace), Chakra (divine disc) These symbols collectively embody her powers of creation, protection, wisdom, cosmic energy, purity, and spiritual discipline. She is also often shown with a radiant golden glow, seated in the core of the Sun, dispelling darkness and ignorance. Her iconography affirms her solar association, the energy of the Sun, and her role as originator of Brahmanda (the universe)
Worshipping Goddess Kushmanda brings deep spiritual and material benefits. Among them: - Bestows Siddhis (spiritual powers) and Niddhis (earthly treasures) - Grants strength, vitality, energy, robust health and long life - Helps in removing diseases, sorrows, obstacles, and negativity - Brings prosperity, abundance, good fortune, and clarity of mind - Enhances spiritual clarity, inner peace, purification, and illumination Devotees often offer white pumpkins i.e. ash gourd(Kushmanda vegetable), from which her name is derived, as a sacred offering (bhog). The pumpkin symbolizes fullness, life energy, prana, and the womb of the universe.
In Vedic astrology, Goddess Kushmanda governs the Sun (Surya). She is believed to empower the Surya with brilliance, warmth, and life-giving force, ensuring that its energy reaches all beings. Devotees worship her to strengthen their solar influence, which brings vitality, confidence, leadership qualities, good health, and clarity. When the Sun is weak in one’s horoscope, worshipping Goddess Kushmanda can help restore balance, improve authority, self-esteem, and courage.
