KushmAnda homam is a prAyachitta homam (palliative act). The kushmAnda homam is a very good prayachitta karma. Whoever whants to do shuddhi of himself can do it. The speciality of this homam is that in the other homas, the Vaadhyaar would get the Achaarya varnam from the kartaa and conduct the homam for him; whereas this homam should be done by thekartA himself. That is, the karta should do it in his Aupasanagni. Another speciality is that except the kushmAnda homam no other homam is directly mentioned in the Vedas. (Taittiriya-Aranyaka, 2.7.1). Other than the wish to remove paapas (sins), thie homam can be done as poorvangam (preliminary) for the karmas such as a daughter's marriage, son's upanayanam, the annual pratyaaptika shraaddhas, and Shashtiaptapoorti. The KushmAnda homam should be done with dikshaa niyamam which is prescribed in the Niyamas, so that the benefit obtained will be at Maximum.
The pooja of Devi Kushmanda on the fourth day of Navratri. Yogis, Sadhakas and other dedicated devotees meditate their mind for Anahata Chakra. The devotees should perform the Pooja of the goddess with pure and calm mind. While worshipping, he should keep in mind the purest form of the goddess. In Sanskrit, Kushmand means pumpkin and she liked the sacrifice of pumpkin. This is the other reason that she is known by the name of Kushmanda. Devi Kushmanda Mantra Ya devi Sarvabhuteshu Ma Kushmanda Rupen Sansthita Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namoh Namah || Devi Kushmanda Strota Durgatinashani Twahim Daridradi Vinashneem | Jaanda Dhandha Kushmande Pranmabhayam || Jagatmata Jagatkatri Jagdadhar Rupneem | Charachareshwari Kushmande Pranambhayam || Trailokyasundari TWahindu Kha Shok Nivarinim | Parmanadmayi, Kushmande Pranmabhyam ||
