Sometimes reality is too complex to be comprehended. Sometimes a story is a perfect getaway from reality not because it’s an alternate version of truth but because the reality seems non-viable. Well, thorough research across tons of scriptures has brought us to a crossroad where one way leads to a well established Vedic perception of the Tridev and the other goes through a strange but intriguing path that might seem to dim the might of Tridev but we leave it to you to decide. We will tell you about the latter path.
The fourth day of Navratri is about Mata Kushmanda, the protagonist of the sweet story that is coming along your way in a minute. So get ready to read about the creation of universe, not the one that an atheist man on a wheelchair told, but the one which was told by, ummm, well the story exists, that’s all we know. Hear us out –
• The kalikula tradition worships Mata Kushmanda as the strongest goddess ever known. Kushmanda breaks into Ku that means little, Ushma that roughly translates into energy and Anda that means cosmic egg. On combining these, Mata Kushmanda is the creator of this ‘warm little cosmic egg’ that is our universe. Although the strongest is always feared, yet it is hard to fear her because Mata calms us with her beautiful smile. She always wears a smile on her face.
• Mata Kushmanda rides a lioness (in some places, she is seen riding a lion or a tiger) and has eight arms (Ashtabhuja Devi). In her eight arms she carries Chakra, sword, Gada (mace), bow, arrow, Amrit Kalash (nectar), Kamandal, and lotus.
• When the universe was black and void of any matter, Mata Kushmanda appeared (don’t ask from where. Remember sometimes reality is too complex. So just don’t) and gently smiled at the vast expanse of emptiness and just like that, entire universe became luminous and that’s how planets and stars were created.
• From her left eye, she gave birth to Mahakali who halved into Shiva and Saraswati, From her centre eye, she created Mahalakshmi who divided into Brahma and Lakshmi and finally from her right eye, Mahasaraswati was born who fissioned into Vishnu and Shakti. She then offered Shakti to Shiva, Lakshmi to Vishnu and Saraswati to Brahma as better halves. After that, Mata Kushmanda absorbed all the three goddesses and herself entered into Shakti as an orb of unending energy.
• So, in a way, it was Mata Kushmanda who was the first being that ever came to existence. It was the trinity and the goddesses who created other Gods and every other creature of universe. Well, this goes against the well established monopoly of Tridev but isn’t it interesting?
• Mata Kushmanda is also believed to exist in the core of Sun, thus fuelling and guiding the Sun.
• Mata Kushmanda resides in Anahata Chakra (the heart chakra). Anahata Nad refers to the Vedic concept of unstruck sound (the sound of the celestial realm) and since this the fourth primary chakra ( after Muladhara, Svadhisthana, Nabhi-Manipura) Mata Kushmanda is worshipped on the fourth day of Navratri.
• Some other sources say that Mata likes ear rings of white pumpkin (Kushmanda), thus she gets her name from there. Mata Kushmanda is the mistress of Siddhis and Niddhis and probably the strongest Goddess known in Shaktism.
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