The Fifth day of Navratri – Goddess Durga as Devi Skandamata

Navaratri is a popular Hindu festival celebrated with great enthusiasm and devotion throughout India. This nine-day festival is dedicated to worshipping the nine forms of Goddess Durga, also known as Navadurga. During this festival, her devotees worship these nine forms of the Goddess.

Devi Skandamata is the fifth form of Goddess Durga, who is worshipped on the fifth day of Navaratri. In this form, the Goddess holds her infant son, Lord Skanda, in her lap. She carries lotus flowers and rides a lion. Devi Skandamata is the mother of Lord Skanda, also known as Kartikeya or Murugan, who is described as the commander of the army of the gods.

During this auspicious occasion, devotees of Devi Skandamata offer her prayers and seek her blessings. Worshipping this form of the Goddess is believed to help people fulfil their desires and overcome their problems.

Devi Skandamata- description as per scriptures

Navratri is a significant occasion during which we worship the nine avatars or forms of Goddess Durga. On the fifth day of Navratri, we worship Devi Skandamata, who is the fifth incarnation of Goddess Durga. The word ‘Skanda’ means fair in Sanskrit and is also associated with the god Kartikeya. ‘Mata’ means mother, and she has been narrated as the mother of God Kartikeya or Skanda in ancient scriptures.

In many Shaivagams, Skandamata Devi symbolizes compassion and care. She is a mother who always protects and cares for her children. Worshipping her can lead to protection, prosperity, and contentment in life. The worship of Mata Skandamata also brings power, wisdom, knowledge, and Moksha. She bestows knowledge and wisdom to her devotees.

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Kundalini and Goddess Skandamata

Goddess Skandamata is linked to the fifth chakra, known as Visuddha Chakra, located in Kundalini. This chakra denotes purity. When someone reaches this chakra, their thoughts, both inside and outside, stop, and they experience complete purity in their mind and heart. It feels like a calm ocean without any waves.

Iconography

In most depictions of Skandamata, the goddess is portrayed with four arms. She has three eyes and rides on a lion. One of her hands is in the Abhayamudra position, a mudra that eliminates fear, while the other holds her infant son, Skanda, on her lap. Her two remaining hands hold lotus flowers, symbolizing wisdom and knowledge. She has a fair complexion and is often depicted seated on a lotus, so she is sometimes referred to as Padmasini.

Story of Devi Skandamata

Once upon a time, a demon named Tarakasura performed intense penance or tapas to please Lord Brahma. Lord Brahma granted him a boon, and Tarakasur asked for immortality. However, Brahma replied that whoever is born has to die and he cannot promise something against nature. Tarakasur, being a clever demon, manipulated his boon by asking that he could only be killed by the son of Lord Shiva. He was sure that Lord Shiva would not marry as he was in deep sorrow and was in deep meditation after the death of his wife, Devi Shakti.

With his boon and blessings, he fought with Devas and established his reign on Devloka. The whole universe was in chaos, and all celestial beings were petrified. Meanwhile, Shakti took incarnation as Parvati and performed severe penance to win Lord Shiva. They both married and had a son named Skanda or Kumara.

Skanda was a unique child, possessing extraordinary power, great intellect, and a strategic mind. He was raised by the Krittika Devis and later by Devi Parvati, who took on the form of Skandamata. Devi Parvati showered him with immense love, teaching him wisdom and skills to protect the world. She instilled in him warrior skills and courage.

Skanda was eventually appointed the Devas' Chief Commander, popularly known as the Lord of War. He defeated Tarakasura, thus restoring balance and establishing peace in the universe.

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Lucky colour

Devi Skandamata has a fair-coloured complexion. She is associated with wisdom, skills, intellect, protection and love. The lucky colour associated with the goddess is yellow. It is considered auspicious to wear yellow clothing while worshipping her. Also, one should offer yellow-coloured articles to Devi Skandamata on the fifth day of Chaitra Navratri.

Significance of worshipping Skandamata

Devi Skandamata is known to have taught Lord Kartikeya all the skills and intellectual abilities that are needed to conquer one's enemies. She is an excellent teacher and can even transform an illiterate person into a wise one if worshipped with complete devotion. Skandamata is known to bestow her devotees with wealth, power, happiness, prosperity, and the ultimate goal of Moksha. The worship of this goddess brings purity and high intellect to the worshipper's life, illuminating it like the sun. She blesses her worshippers with success, courage, immunity, and wealth, and also helps them gain control over their senses and mind.

By worshipping Skandamata, one can receive the blessings of both Skandamata and her son, Lord Kartikeya, who sits in her lap. Those who worship Skandamata selflessly acquire wisdom that leads to salvation. She is also referred to as "The Goddess of Fire" in many texts.

Mantra

ॐ देवी स्कन्दमातायै नम:

सिंहासनगता नित्यं पद्माञ्चित करद्वया।

शुभदास्तु सदा देवी स्कन्दमाता यशस्विनी॥

या देवी सर्वभू‍तेषु माँ स्कन्दमाता रूपेण संस्थिता।

नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥

Om Devi Skandamataye Namah

Sinhaasanagta Nityam Padmanchit Kardavya।

Shubhdaastu Sada Devi Skandamata Yashasvini॥

Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Ma Skandamata Rupen Sansthita।

Namastasye Namastasye Namastasye Namo Namah॥

Meaning- Om Devi Skandamata, I bow to you.

You sit on a lion's throne with lotus flowers in both hands.

May you always bless us, O Goddess Skandamata, full of glory.

You are present in all beings as Maa Skandamata.

I bow to you, again and again.

Temple

The temple of Skandamata is situated in Jaitpura, Varanasi.