NAVARATRI 2026 – Nine Nights for Nine Inner Transformations

Sharad Navaratri 2026 (11–20 October 2026) and Vijayadashami 21 October 2026

Navaratri 2026 · Day 4 – Maa Kushmanda: The Creative Light Within

1. Who Is Maa Kushmanda?

On the fourth day we worship Maa Kushmanda, the Mother who, the tradition says, brought the universe into being with her gentle smile. Her name is read as ku (a little), ushma (warmth, energy), and anda (the cosmic egg): with a little of her warmth she created the brahmanda, the cosmic egg, when all was darkness.

She is said to dwell in the core of the Sun, and her radiance gives the Sun its light. She has eight arms, holding the kamandalu, bow, arrow, lotus, a pot of nectar, chakra, mace, and a japa mala, and she rides a lion. Her smile carries a deep teaching: creation is not a burden to her but an outpouring of joy.

In the Navadurga sequence of the Devi Kavacham (shlokas 3–5), she is “Kūṣmāṇḍeti caturthakam”, the fourth. After steadiness, discipline, and courage comes creative radiance.

2. The Durga Saptashati Link

Throughout the Durga Saptashati the Devi is praised as the source of creation itself. In the Narayani Stuti of Chapter 11, the gods address her as the eternal power behind creation, preservation, and dissolution:

sṛṣṭisthitivināśānāṃ śaktibhūte sanātani |

guṇāśraye guṇamaye nārāyaṇi namo’stu te ||

“O eternal one, you are the power of creation, sustenance, and dissolution; the support of the gunas and made of the gunas. Salutations to you, O Narayani.” (Devi Mahatmya 11.11)

[Verse numbers as in the Gita Press edition; please check against your copy]

Chapter 4, the Shakradi Stuti, is the gods’ hymn of thanksgiving after Mahishasura falls. It is a fitting reading for Day 4, since gratitude and praise are the natural response to the light that sustains us.

3. The Astrological Link

In this series, the astrology lens for Maa Kushmanda is Jupiter (Guru, Brihaspati): expansion, wisdom, and meaning. Jupiter is the great benefic, the planet of grace, the guru, dharma, children, and growth. It rules Dhanu and Meena and is exalted in Karka.

Kushmanda expands a single point of warmth into an entire cosmos, and Jupiter is the principle of expansion. But Jupiter’s expansion is wise: it grows what is meaningful, not merely what is large. Her smile, creation as an outpouring of joy, is the Jupiterian conviction that life has meaning and purpose.

Tradition places Kushmanda’s abode in the core of the Sun. In this series we contemplate her through Jupiter, the guru who turns light into wisdom: the Sun gives light, Jupiter teaches us what to see by it.

4. Astrology Message for the Day

Day 4 supports those with a weak or afflicted Jupiter: debilitated in Makara, joined with Rahu (Guru-Chandala yoga), combust, or weak by house. Such placements can show as a lack of direction or meaning, poor judgement, over-expansion and excess, or distance from teachers and wise counsel.

The remedy is to live like Jupiter: study something that uplifts you, honour your teachers and elders, and give generously, since Jupiter expands whatever is given. Begin one thing today that has real meaning for you.

5. A Message for Youngsters

Kushmanda created a universe with a smile. Your creativity also begins small: a little warmth, a little effort, offered with joy. Do not wait to feel fully confident before you begin something. Begin, and confidence follows.

Today, create something with your own hands or mind: a drawing, a song, a meal for your family, a piece of code, a page of writing. Make it for the joy of making it, not for likes or approval. That is how the Mother creates.

6. Inner Message from Swami, Scripture, and the Sages

Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, in His Dasara discourse of 9 October 1994, explained the three potencies of the Mother within us: will power, the power of action, and the power of wisdom. He taught that these three are represented in the Gayatri Mantra’s words “Om Bhur Bhuvas Suvah”. Bhur is the earth and the body; Bhuvah is the life-force and also conscience; and Suvah is the power of radiation. All three, Swami said, are present in every human being.

Swami then gave the practical teaching: turn the power of action into a force for doing divine actions, and turn the power of discernment into the Divine itself. This is Kushmanda’s light directed inward and then shared outward.

The Gayatri Mantra itself is addressed to Savitr, the divine light of the Sun: “tat savitur vareṇyaṃ bhargo devasya dhīmahi, dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt”, “We meditate on the adorable radiance of the divine Savitr; may it illumine our intellect” (Rigveda 3.62.10).

The Bhagavad Gita: Sri Krishna says that the light in the Sun which illumines the whole world, and the light in the Moon and in fire, is His own light (Bhagavad Gita 15.12).

The Isha Upanishad prays to the Sun as Pushan to remove the golden lid that hides the face of Truth, so that the seeker may see the Truth that is the same person in the Sun and in oneself (Isha Upanishad 15–16).

7. What Everyone Should Understand

The Devi is not only a destroyer of demons. She is first the creator; every form of creativity is her worship.
The Sun worshipped in our tradition is not just a ball of fire but a symbol of the Atma, the light by which all else is seen.
Joy is a spiritual quality. Kushmanda creates with a smile, and worship offered with a heavy heart misses her spirit.
Gratitude, as in the Shakradi Stuti, completes every victory. Thank before you ask.

8. Practical Orientation for Day 4

Surya arghya: At sunrise, offer water to the Sun with folded hands and chant the Gayatri Mantra three or eleven times.
Chanting: Repeat “Om Devi Kushmandayai Namah” 108 times.

Mantra and dhyana shloka of Maa Kushmanda

ॐ देवी कूष्माण्डायै नमः

सुरासम्पूर्णकलशं रुधिराप्लुतमेव च ।

दधाना हस्तपद्माभ्यां कूष्माण्डा शुभदास्तु मे ॥

surāsampūrṇakalaśaṃ rudhirāplutameva ca |

dadhānā hastapadmābhyāṃ kūṣmāṇḍā śubhadāstu me ||

May Kushmanda, who holds in her lotus hands two full vessels, one of nectar and one of blood, symbols of creation and its life-force, be auspicious to me.

Reading: Read Chapter 4 of the Durga Saptashati, the Shakradi Stuti.
Create something: Make or cook one thing with full attention and offer it first to the Mother.
Smile seva: Bring warmth to one person who seems weighed down today. A smile and a kind word are Kushmanda’s own gift.

oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ tat savitur vareṇyaṃ

bhargo devasya dhīmahi dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt

(Rigveda 3.62.10)

Tomorrow: Day 5, Maa Skandamata, the Mother as first teacher.

Ravinder Grover

Astrology & Spiritual Insights

🌐 www.ravindergrover.com

📲 Join my WhatsApp Channel for regular updates:
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vai6rQz6rsQyMHx7nZ1z

This work is protected under copyright and DMCA. Unauthorised use is prohibited.

Disclaimer: ‘Without Prejudice’. I offer my insight into astrology solely based on my learnings of astrology principles and techniques, some of which I learnt from the Sages of the highest order. These predictions are offered for guidance purposes only. I offer absolutely no guarantee for my calculations and analysis. These predictions are not intended to cause harm to anyone in any way. I expressly disclaim all warranties, whether implied or contingent, for making use of these predictions or for incurring any loss or loss of profit in any manner whatsoever. No notice or advice from anyone will create any liability whatsoever