Many best wishes from Paras Bhai to all the members of Paras Parivaar for Shardiya Navratri 2024. This year, Shardiya Navratri is being celebrated from the 3rd to the 12th of October. According to the Hindu calendar, it begins on the Pratipada tithi of Shukla Paksha in the Ashwin month. This festival, which comes before Diwali, gives many reasons for curiosity to the devotees. Devotees get information about the nine forms of goddesses based on Navratri. In a country like India where the patriarchal system is very dominant, by worshiping the nine forms of goddesses, the daughters of the house are also given the status of Maa by offering them prasad. On this day, all the devotees worship Maa Durga by chanting Jai Mata Di. This is a very dignified and respectable act in itself.

There are different ways of celebrating Navratri all over India, from North to South India, there are different ways and processes of worshiping the nine forms of Maa Durga. While Shardiya Navratri has a different significance in Kolkata, it is celebrated with great joy in Gujarat. These nine forms of Durga Maa represent the divine forms of women. This gives rise to the feeling of respect for women. Mahant Shri Paras Bhai Ji meditates on all the forms of Maa with great enthusiasm on the occasion of every Navratri.

Fourth  Goddess: Mata Kushmanda

The fourth day of Navratri is dedicated to Maa Kushmanda, the fourth form of Maa Durga. Maa Kushmanda is called the mother of the universe. Based on the Puranas, Mahant Shri Paras Bhai Ji also believes that Maa Kushmanda gave life to this lifeless universe through her smile. According to Hindu Mythology, before the Maa, there was only darkness in this Universe, after which this entire world was created by the faint smile of Maa Kushmanda. This is the reason why Maa Kushmanda is also known as Adishakti, and due to having eight arms, she is also called Ashtabhuja. Goddess Kushmanda created the Sun as well as the galaxies. With just her smile in the form of a flower, the Maa created this entire Universe. According to Paras bhai, it is believed that Goddess Kushmanda is the creator of this perfect Universe.

According to mythological beliefs, Maa Kushmanda loves the sacrifice of pumpkin (Petha), and in the Sanskrit language, it is called Kushmanda. Due to the creation of this egg-shaped Universe, this form of Maa Durga is known as Kushmanda. It is believed that the abode of Maa Kushmanda is the world inside the Sun. It is said that the radiance of Maa's body is like that of the Sun, no goddess or god can face the brilliance of Maa Kushmanda.

Maa Kushmanda was incarnated to destroy the Demons and create the entire universe. According to Hindu Dharma Shastra and Paras Bhai Ji, Maa Kushmanda has seven weapons in her hands and a rosary of Siddhis in her Eighth Hand. These seven weapons are mace, conch, arrow, chakra, kamandal, bow and Amritkalash. It is said that by worshiping Maa Kushmanda with complete devotion, the mother bestows fame and strength to her devotees.

Mantra and Puja of Devi Kushmanda:

Devotees worship the nine forms of Maa Durga with great devotion. The goddess is worshiped on different days through various rituals. While worshiping Maa Kushmanda, devotees wear green clothes. As per tradition, Petha (ash gourd) should be offered to Maa Kushmanda, which is believed to bring happiness and prosperity to the devotees' lives.