kaumari – koumari – kumari
Kaumari Devi (Kumari, Koumari Devi) is one of the Saptamatrikas (Seven Divine Mothers). Goddess Kaumari Devi is referred as the Shakti of Skanda (Lord Kumara).
Koumari Devi is also considered as Astamatrikas (Eight Divine Mothers). Kaumari is also known as Kartikeyani and Ambika.
Kaumari Devi is the power of Lord Kumara (Murugan or Kartikeya or Skanda or Subramanya or Shanmukha), the God of war.
As per the Matsya Purana, Kaumaris vahana (vehicle) is peacock; and she wears red saree and holds Sakti and Sula in her holds as weapons.
Devi Purana also describes about Goddess Kumari, who has given birth to Kartikeya, also called as Kartikeyani.
Devi Purana mentioned that Kumari is the daughter of Goddess Lalitha and Mayipuri as her sacred place. Kumari was very courageous Goddess who killed demon Bhandas sons.
Many scriptures, images and idols of Goddess Kaumari were restored from sailors and smugglers in different parts of India.
Goddess Kaumari is one of the sapta matrikas (the seven divine goddesses) who is regarded as the power of Lord Kumara (also known as Muruga or skanda). She is also known as Kumari, Kartikeyani or Ambika.
She gets her name from Kumara who is Lord Skanda or Muruga and is seen with the same weapons and vehicles as Lord Subramanya. She is usually depicted as having four hands and she carries a small spear like weapon called the Vel and a flag in her two hands. Her other two hands are in the poses of abhaya and varada mudra. She is seen riding on a peacock just like Lord Skanda and she is seen residing under a fig tree. Her colour is depicted as red.
Some ancient texts also describe her as having six faces and twelve arms . The puranas vary slightly when it comes to describing the outlook of the Goddess kaumari as well as the other saptamatrikas. However it indicates that the sapta matrikas represent the negative quality which one needs to get rid off in order to attain spiritual salvation and in that aspect , Goddess kaumari represents the one who destroys bad temper in the devotee.
Gayatri Mantra for Goddess Kaumari :
Aum sikid vajaaya vidmahe
vajra hasthaya dhimahe
tanno kaumari prachodayat
It is believed that chanting this mantra is a good solution to protect oneself from natural disasters, chicken pox and other heat related diseases. The best time to chant this mantra is on tuesdays and fridays apart from pournami.