Kushmanda and the First Smile

Long, long ago, before anything at all, there was no sun. There was no moon, and not a single star. There was only a quiet, endless dark, soft and still, waiting for something to begin.

Then the goddess Kushmanda opened her eyes. She had eight gentle arms and rode a golden lion. She looked at the dark, and she smiled. And her smile was so warm that it began to glow, like the first light of morning.

The glow grew round and bright, like a golden egg. Kushmanda held it softly in her hands, the way you hold a baby bird. Inside, something was stirring. Crack! Out spilled sparkles of light.

Out came the shining sun. Out came the smiling moon and twinkling stars. Out came the planets, round and colorful, spinning like happy tops. Far below, mountains rose and rivers began to sing. The whole world had been born from one smile.

Kushmanda chose the sun as her home. From there, she sends warmth to every field and flower, and light to every window. When sunshine touches your face in the morning, people say it is her smile, saying good morning.

On the fourth day of Navaratri, families remember Kushmanda. Some offer her a round orange pumpkin, round like the world she made. So today, give someone a big warm smile. You never know what light it might start.