Ku means little, Ushma means warmth and Anda means egg. Maa Kushmanda is therefore the force that provides warmth to the universal egg, nurtures it and creates the universe with it. There is a relevant theory that says one can’t estimate the vastness of a universe according to its size. Remember the galaxy in Orion’s belt in Men in Black Part 1? Exactly. For Maa Kushmanda, our entire universe and the multiverse can fit in a little egg, hence her name justifies the meaning.

There is a very interesting story of how she created the universe as well and, in this blog, we have tried to narrate it as simply as possible. Take a read and tell us what you feel.

When the universe didn’t exist and darkness prevailed the entire space, Maa Kushmanda produced a “little cosmic egg” with her warm smile. As soon as the egg was produced, the entire universe was filled with light. Maa Kushmanda, is believed to be the source of all light, the prime Shakti, the first who ever was and the one who will always be there.

It is believed that she lives in the core of the Sun and provides energy to all beings from there. She is also believed to provide direction to Surya or the Sun God.

After creating the universe, Maa created the first beings. The first three Supreme Goddesses. With her left eye, she created a terrorizing form who was named MahaKali. From the center eye on the forehead, another ferocious form was created and she was called MahaLakshmi. Lastly, from the right eye, an extremely benevolent and smiling form emerged who was name MahaSaraswati.

From the body of MahaKali, a male and a female form were born. The male had five heads and ten arms and was named Shiva. The female had one head and four arms and her name was Saraswati.

From the body of Mahalakshmi a male and a female took birth. The male had four heads and four arms and Maa named him Brahma. The female had one head and four arms and Maa named her Lakshmi.

As Maa Kushmanda glanced at Mahasaraswati, she also gave birth to a male and a female. The male had one head and four arms and was named Vishnu. The female had one head and four arms and was named Shakti.

Post this, Shakti to Shiva, Saraswati to Brahma and Lakshmi to Vishnu were offered as consorts by Maa Kushmanda.

After this, Maa Kushmanda absorbed all three supreme Goddesses and herself entered Shakti as an orb of divine and unending energy.

Thus, the belief that Maa Kushmanda is a form of Shakti who created this universe and was the first being in the entire universe. The Gods that she created then went on to create other living beings in the universe.

Maa Kushmanda possesses eight arms. She wields a water pot, a bow, an arrow, a lotus, a pot of nectar, a disc, a mace and a rosary in her eight arms. She rides a lion which evokes fearlessness in her devotees. She bestows all pleasure and her regular worship brings prosperity, powers, pleasures and salvation. She destroys all ailments, troubles and hurdles of her true devotees.

This story cancels the popular belief of there being a male being who create the world and the universe. It rather emphasizes on energy and how the Divine Feminine goes on to create the first beings. When looked at from the Tantra perspective, it is believed that the male is pure knowledge and the female is pure energy. Thus, making sense of the first creator being female.