Ashada Gupta Navratri Kushmanda Puja 2026

Day Four of Ashadha Gupta Navratri: Kushmanda Puja

On Ashadha Shukla Chavithi, the fourth day of Ashadha Gupta Navratri, devotees worship Kushmanda, the fourth Navadurga. She is revered as the primal Shakti who created the universe with her smile. People pray to her today for health, radiance and enthusiasm.

The Mother Behind Creation

Devotees believe that when there was only darkness before creation, the goddess smiled gently and the cosmic egg came into being. Her name is explained as "ku" (a little), "ushma" (warmth) and "anda" (the cosmic egg). She is said to dwell in the sun and to give the sun its brilliance. With eight arms she is also called Ashtabhuja Devi, holding a kamandalu, bow, arrow, lotus, pot of nectar, discus, mace and japamala, and she rides a lion. Kushmanda also means ash gourd, so some traditions offer an ash gourd on this day.

Surasampurnakalasham rudhiraplutameva cha | Dadhana hastapadmabhyam Kushmanda shubhadastu me ||

Puja on Chavithi

• Bathe at sunrise and offer arghyam to the Sun, which is especially fitting since Kushmanda dwells in the solar sphere.
• Bow to the Kalasha and Akhanda Deepam, and offer red flowers to the goddess.
• Chant "Om Devi Kushmandayai Namaha" 108 times.
• Malpua is the popular naivedyam in North India; Telugu homes can offer the similar appalu, or bobbatlu or a pumpkin halwa.
• Share the naivedyam as prasadam and close with aarti.

The Ashadha Setting and Observances

Ashadha marks the start of the rainy season, and elders advise light, sattvic food to stay healthy. Those observing the Gupta Navratri fast should choose a discipline that suits their health. Just as Telangana offers Bonalu to the village goddesses this month, worshipping Kushmanda at home is an offering to the same Divine Mother.

Blessings of the Day

Devotees believe that worshipping Kushmanda gives strength to the body, cheer to the mind and prosperity to the home. The mother who created the world with a smile reminds us to light up our own lives with a positive outlook.

May Kushmanda Devi's smile fill our homes with light and joy.