Fourth Narata - Maa Kushmanda

The Sun gives life to the whole world. At the core of the Sun lives Goddess Kushmanda. She is the power that makes the Sun shine and spread energy to every living being.

A long time ago, after the demon Jatukasura was defeated, two demons named Mali and Sumali, sons of Sukesh, started doing very deep meditation to please Lord Shiva. Their penance was so strong that their bodies began to glow.

Surya, the Sun God, noticed this glow and became curious. Normally, a celestial body like the Sun should never leave its place. But Surya could not control himself—he left his position and moved closer to Earth. As he came too near the meditating brothers, the heat from him burned them to ashes.

When Lord Shiva saw this, he became very angry. He struck Surya with his Trishul, and Surya fell unconscious. The whole universe turned dark. Without the Sun, there was no light, no gravity, and everything lost balance.

Rishi Kashyapa, father of the gods, was heartbroken. He cursed Shiva, saying that just as Shiva had destroyed his son, one day he too would lose his own child.

Shiva then went to Goddess Parvati for help. He told her, “You are the mother of the universe, the source of all energy. Only you can fix this.” Parvati then created a huge ball of fire and light. From this, the Sun was reborn. When she stepped out of the fireball, her beauty lit up the universe.

Later, Parvati asked Kashyapa and Sukesh to collect blood in one pot. With her power, another pot filled with Amrit (nectar of life). Kashyapa poured both into Surya’s mouth, and Surya came back to life.

Parvati also blessed Sukesh’s wife, Devavati, by placing an egg in her womb made from the ashes of Mali and Sumali. From this egg, demonic children were born.

Because she created the universe in the form of a glowing cosmic egg, Parvati became known as Kushmanda.

• “Ku” means little,
• “Ushma” means warmth
• “Anda” means egg or sphere.

Since then, Goddess Kushmanda has lived in the core of the Sun. Her energy gives the Sun its light and strength, and she guides the Sun God himself.