Navratri 2026 Day 4: Maa Kushmanda Mantra, Colour (Royal Blue), Bhog and Puja Vidhi for Wednesday 14 October

Quick answer: for the Navratri Day 4 2026 Kushmanda mantra colour and date: Day 4 falls on Wednesday 14 October 2026 (Chaturthi tithi in India). The Goddess of the day is Maa Kushmanda, the colour is royal blue, the traditional bhog is malpua, and her naam mantra is "Om Devi Kushmandayai Namah", chanted 108 times after lighting the lamp.

On the fourth evening of Navratri, the lamp in the home shrine has been burning for three days and the house has settled into a gentle rhythm of prayer. Day 4 belongs to Maa Kushmanda, the radiant mother whose smile, as commonly told, lit up the darkness before creation began. Whether you are in Delhi, Dallas or Dubai, this guide walks you through her form, her mantras, a simple home puja and a short prayer you can say even on a busy Wednesday.

Navratri Day 4 2026 Kushmanda mantra colour and date at a glance

The full nine-day colour list is on our Navratri 2026 colours page. Navratri 2026 runs from Sunday 11 to Monday 19 October in India, with Dussehra on Tuesday 20 October.

Who is Maa Kushmanda? Her form and iconography

Kushmanda is usually explained as "ku" (a little), "ushma" (warmth or energy) and "anda" (the cosmic egg): the Goddess who, with a little warmth and a gentle smile, gave birth to the cosmic egg. The word kushmanda is also the Sanskrit name for the ash gourd, and in some traditions an ash gourd is offered to her.

In temple pictures and calendar art she is shown with eight arms, which is why she is also called Ashtabhuja Devi. She rides a lion and is commonly shown holding a kamandalu (water pot), a bow and arrow, a lotus, a pot of nectar, a discus, a mace and a japa mala. Her complexion glows like the sun, and she is traditionally described as dwelling in the heart of the sun itself.

The story of Maa Kushmanda, as commonly told

As commonly told, before the universe existed there was only darkness. No light, no sound, no form. Then the Divine Mother smiled, and from that smile a soft glow spread outward and became the cosmic egg from which all the worlds unfolded. Because she alone could bear the heat of the sun, she took her seat at its core and gave it its brilliance.

This is a tender image for a festival about light defeating darkness. The universe, in this telling, began not with a battle but with a mother's smile. Many devotees like to reflect on that on Day 4: warmth and kindness can be a quiet kind of strength.

Spiritual significance of Day 4

As traditionally described in yoga-based teachings, Day 4 is associated with the Anahata (heart) chakra, the centre of love, compassion and balance. Devotees believe Maa Kushmanda is a giver of vitality and good health, and the day is often given to prayers for the well-being of the whole family.

Coming in the middle of the first three days, which focus on steadiness, devotion and courage, Day 4 turns the heart outward: gratitude for life itself, and care for those around us.

Navratri Day 4 mantras: Maa Kushmanda

Below are the traditional texts as commonly recited. The Devanagari and transliteration are given exactly; the English meanings are plain-language explanations. Chant slowly, with the lamp lit, and let the meaning settle in.

1. Kushmanda naam mantra

ॐ देवी कूष्माण्डायै नमः॥

Transliteration: Om Devi Kushmandayai Namah

Meaning: Om, salutations to Goddess Kushmanda.

How to chant: after lighting the lamp, chant 108 times with a rudraksha or tulsi mala, or 11 or 21 times if time is short. This is the easiest mantra for children and beginners.

2. Kushmanda dhyana shloka

सुरासम्पूर्णकलशं रुधिराप्लुतमेव च। दधाना हस्तपद्माभ्यां कूष्माण्डा शुभदास्तु मे॥

Transliteration: Surasampurna-kalasham rudhiraplutameva cha, dadhana hasta-padmabhyam kushmanda shubhadastu me.

Meaning: May Goddess Kushmanda, who holds in her lotus-like hands a vessel brimming full and another vessel bathed in red, be the giver of auspiciousness to me.

How to chant: recite once or three times at the start of the puja while picturing the Goddess, before offering flowers. Dhyana means meditation: it is a way of seeing her form in the mind.

3. Kushmanda stuti (Ya Devi...)

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु माँ कूष्माण्डा रूपेण संस्थिता। नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥

Transliteration: Ya Devi sarvabhuteshu Maa Kushmanda rupena samsthita, namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah.

Meaning: To the Goddess who dwells in all beings in the form of Maa Kushmanda: salutations to her, salutations to her, salutations to her, again and again.

How to chant: three, nine or eleven times, with folded hands, after the naivedya is offered.

4. Navarna mantra

ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे॥

Transliteration: Om Aim Hreem Kleem Chamundayai Vichche

Meaning: The nine-syllable mantra of the Devi in the Chandi (Durga Saptashati) tradition. Aim, Hreem and Kleem are seed syllables traditionally linked with Mahasaraswati, Mahalakshmi and Mahakali; the mantra bows to Chamunda, the Goddess who destroys negativity.

How to chant: many families chant one mala each day of Navratri. Some traditions prefer that it be learned from a teacher, so follow your family's practice.

5. Durga beeja mantra

ॐ दुं दुर्गायै नमः॥

Transliteration: Om Dum Durgayai Namah

Meaning: Om, salutations to Goddess Durga. "Dum" is Durga's seed syllable.

How to chant: 108 times with a mala, or quietly during your commute or before sleep.

6. Sarva Mangala Mangalye

सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिके। शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके गौरि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते॥

Transliteration: Sarva-mangala-mangalye shive sarvartha-sadhike, sharanye tryambake gauri narayani namostu te.

Meaning: O auspiciousness of all that is auspicious, O gracious one who fulfils every worthy aim, O refuge of all, three-eyed Gauri, Narayani, salutations to you. (From the Narayani Stuti of the Devi Mahatmya.)

How to chant: recite three times at the end of the puja, just before the aarti.

Step-by-step home puja vidhi for Day 4

This is a simple, apartment-friendly puja that takes about 20 to 30 minutes. If you have a family priest or a set tradition, follow that first.

1. Bathe, wear clean clothes (royal blue if you like) and tidy the puja space.
2. Refresh the kalash water if you set one up on Day 1, and check the akhand jyoti or light a fresh ghee or oil lamp.
3. Take a moment of sankalpa: sit quietly, say your name and family, and state that you are worshipping Maa Kushmanda on the fourth day of Navratri.
4. Recite the dhyana shloka while picturing the Goddess.
5. Offer kumkum, haldi, akshata (unbroken rice) and fresh flowers. Many families choose red flowers for Devi; others pick blooms in the colour of the day.
6. Light incense, then chant the naam mantra 108 times (or 11 or 21).
7. Offer the malpua bhog with a little water, and recite the Ya Devi stuti.
8. Recite Sarva Mangala Mangalye, then perform aarti with camphor or a ghee lamp, singing the Durga or Ambe aarti your family knows.
9. Close with a prayer, ask forgiveness for any mistakes, and share the prasad with the family.

For a fuller nine-day plan for small homes, see our apartment-friendly Navratri puja vidhi, and for a deeper Day 4 ritual reading, our Maa Kushmanda complete rituals guide.

Bhog, flowers and aarti

Bhog: by popular custom, malpua (sweet fried pancakes soaked in syrup) is offered to Maa Kushmanda. Lists vary by tradition. If you are fasting, make malpua with a vrat-friendly flour such as kuttu or singhara, or offer fruit and a simple kheer instead. Ideas are in our Sharad Navratri 2026 day-wise vrat recipes and day-wise prasadam recipes.

Flowers: fresh, fragrant flowers are always welcome. Hibiscus and other red flowers are traditional favourites for the Goddess; marigolds and jasmine are easy to find abroad too.

Aarti: use the Durga or Ambe aarti your family sings every day of Navratri. The aarti is the same through the nine days; only the Goddess you hold in your heart changes.

Fasting on Day 4: what to do and avoid

• Common vrat foods: fruit, milk, curd, sabudana, kuttu, singhara and rajgira flour, samak (barnyard) rice, potatoes, and rock salt (sendha namak).
• Usually avoided: wheat, rice, lentils, onion, garlic, meat, eggs and alcohol. Rules vary by family; follow yours.
• Stay gentle with yourself: drink enough water, rest, and choose a one-meal or fruit fast if a full fast is hard on a working day.
• Health first: children, pregnant women, older people and anyone with diabetes or on medication should keep a light fast or speak to a doctor.
• In spirit: speak kindly, avoid quarrels and gossip, and give a little time or food to someone in need.

A short prayer and sankalpa for Day 4

You can say this in English after the mantras, in your own words if you prefer:

"Maa Kushmanda, you who smiled and brought light into the darkness, I bow to you on this fourth day of Navratri. Please accept this lamp, these flowers and this simple offering. Fill our home with your warmth. Keep my family healthy, my heart kind and my mind steady. Forgive whatever I have done wrong, knowingly or unknowingly. Jai Mata Di."

For NRIs: keeping Day 4 on a Wednesday abroad

Day 4 is a working Wednesday for most families outside India. A few ideas that help:

• Do a five-minute lamp and naam mantra before work, and the full puja in the evening.
• Prepare malpua batter the night before, or keep fruit as bhog on busy days.
• If you can, visit your local Devi or Hindu temple after work; many hold evening Navratri programmes. Check the temple's website for timings.
• Wear something royal blue to the office as a quiet reminder of the day.

Dates abroad: in the USA, Canada, the UK and elsewhere, tithis begin at different local times, so check your local temple panchang. Drik Panchang lists Durga Ashtami on 18 October and Maha Navami on 19 October in the USA, Canada and UK, whereas in India both fall on 19 October. City-by-city details are in our Navratri 2026 USA guide and Navratri 2026 complete NRI guide.

Yesterday was Day 3, Maa Chandraghanta. Tomorrow is Day 5, Maa Skandamata.

Frequently asked questions

Which goddess is worshipped on Navratri Day 4 2026?

Maa Kushmanda, the fourth of the Navadurga forms. Day 4 of Sharad Navratri 2026 is Wednesday 14 October in India, with Chaturthi tithi at sunrise.

What is the colour of Navratri Day 4 2026?

Royal blue, by the popular weekday colour pattern (Wednesday is royal blue). Colour lists vary between publishers and regions, and wearing the colour is a joyful custom, not a rule of the puja.

What is the mantra of Maa Kushmanda?

The simplest is her naam mantra, "Om Devi Kushmandayai Namah" (ॐ देवी कूष्माण्डायै नमः॥). Many devotees also recite her dhyana shloka, "Surasampurna-kalasham...", and the stuti "Ya Devi sarvabhuteshu Maa Kushmanda rupena samsthita...".

What bhog is offered to Maa Kushmanda?

By popular custom, malpua is the bhog of Day 4. Lists vary by family and region; any simple, clean, sattvic sweet offered with love is acceptable, and many families share the prasad afterwards.

How many times should I chant the Kushmanda mantra?

A common practice is one mala of 108 repetitions of the naam mantra after lighting the lamp. If time is short, 11 or 21 repetitions with full attention are perfectly fine. Follow your family tradition or priest.

Is Navratri Day 4 on the same date in the USA, Canada and UK?

The nine-day count usually lines up, but tithis begin at different local times abroad, so check your local temple calendar. For example, Drik Panchang lists Durga Ashtami on 18 October and Maha Navami on 19 October in the USA, Canada and UK, while in India both fall on 19 October.

Editor's note

Editor's note (6 October 2026): India dates and tithi are from Drik Panchang. The mantras are traditional texts as commonly recited, and the colour and bhog follow popular custom; lists vary between regions and families. Please follow your family priest and tradition where they differ.

Related guides

• Navratri 2026 Day 3: Maa Chandraghanta
• Navratri 2026 Day 5: Maa Skandamata
• Navratri 2026 colours: the 9 days list
• Navratri day-wise mantras and their significance
• Navratri 2026: complete guide for NRIs
• Navratri Day 4: Maa Kushmanda complete rituals guide
• Navratri & Dussehra 2026: 9-day Devi worship guide