Goddess Skandamata

Manyanshi Joshi
Sep 26
4 min read

The fifth goddess worshipped during Navratri is Skandamata (स्कन्दमाता).

🕉️ Goddess Skandamata – 5th Day of Navratri

Name Meaning: Mother of Skanda (Kartikeya), the commander of the divine army.
Appearance: She is depicted riding a lion, with four arms. She holds baby Skanda (Kartikeya) in one arm, a lotus in two hands, and the fourth hand is in Abhaya Mudra (blessing posture).
Color of the Day: Orange (in many traditions)
Day Worshipped: 5th day of Navratri
Symbolism:
- Represents motherly love, strength, and protection.
- Associated with Vishuddha Chakra (Throat Chakra), enhancing communication and purity.
- She blesses her devotees with wisdom, power, and prosperity.

Mantra:

"ॐ देवी स्कन्दमातायै नमः॥"(Om Devi Skandamatayai Namah)

Here’s a complete guide for Day 5 of Navratri dedicated to Goddess Skandamata, including a simple prayer, Aarti, and worship procedure (Puja Vidhi):

🌸 1. Simple Prayer to Skandamata

You can recite this heartfelt prayer to seek her blessings:

प्रसन्नं पद्मासनस्थां शशांक-कृत-शेखराम्।श्वेतां स्कन्दमातानां वन्दे हम् शुभदां शिवाम्॥

Meaning: "I bow to Skandamata, who sits on a lotus, is radiant like the moon, and brings auspiciousness and peace."

🪔 2. Skandamata Aarti

Here is a simple Hindi Aarti commonly sung during her worship:

🔸 आरती स्कंदमाता की कीजै।जो जन नित ध्यान धरै, भवसागर से पार वही उतरे॥ पांचवां नाम स्कंदमाता कहावे।जो इसे सच्चे मन से ध्यावे॥ कहत शिवानंद स्वामी ध्यान धरो मन लाई।सभी कष्ट मिट जाएं, मां कृपा दिखाई॥

(You can sing this with a diya and bell in hand during her Aarti.)

🙏 3. How to Worship Skandamata (Puja Vidhi)

🌅 Preparation (Morning or Evening):

Clean your puja space and take a bath.
Set up a picture or idol of Skandamata, ideally sitting on a lotus or lion with baby Kartikeya.
Offer a clean cloth, preferably in orange or white color.

🌺 Puja Steps:

Dhyana (Meditation):Sit calmly, close your eyes and meditate on her form — a loving mother with a divine child.
Mantra Japa: Chant her mantra 108 times (or as per your time):
ॐ देवी स्कन्दमातायै नमः॥
Offerings (Bhog):
- Bananas, pomegranate, or kheer (sweet rice pudding) are considered auspicious.
- Offer white or red flowers, incense sticks, diya (lamp), and camphor.
Aarti: Perform the Aarti mentioned above, with love and devotion.
Prayer and Wishes: Ask for blessings of wisdom, protection, and maternal care. You may also pray for children or family health.

🧘‍♀️ Spiritual Significance

Worshipping Skandamata enhances communication and devotion.
She also blesses devotees with parental joy, spiritual wisdom, and protection from evil forces.

🕉️ History and Mythology of Goddess Skandamata (5th Day of Navratri)

Skandamata is the fifth form of Navadurga, and her name means "Mother of Skanda" — Skanda being another name for Kartikeya, the commander-in-chief of the gods’ army and the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.

📖 Mythological Story Behind Skandamata

🧘‍♀️ Origin as Parvati:

Skandamata is actually a form of Goddess Parvati. According to Hindu mythology:

When the demon Tarakasura was wreaking havoc across the universe, he could only be defeated by the son of Lord Shiva, as per a boon he had received.
But Lord Shiva was in deep meditation, disconnected from the world.
The gods pleaded with Goddess Parvati, who undertook deep penance to awaken Shiva.
Eventually, Shiva accepted her as his consort, and from their union, Lord Kartikeya (Skanda) was born.
Skanda was raised for a while by the Krittikas (six celestial mothers), hence he’s also called Kartikeya.
When Kartikeya grew strong enough, he was given the leadership of the celestial army, and he defeated Tarakasura.

👶 Transformation into Skandamata:

As the mother of the warrior god, Parvati came to be known as Skandamata.

She’s depicted as a mother holding her divine child, Skanda, in her lap while riding a lion, symbolizing courage and maternal protection.
Even while holding her son, she remains poised, graceful, and powerful — showing the balance between motherhood and warrior energy.

🧠 Spiritual Meaning of Skandamata

She symbolizes the power of motherhood — nurturing yet fiercely protective.
Worshipping her grants strength, wisdom, protection, and helps in removing ignorance.
She's also associated with the Vishuddha Chakra (throat chakra), which governs communication and truth.

🛡️ Iconography (Symbolism)

Mount: Lion – courage and fearlessness.
Son: Baby Kartikeya (Skanda) in her lap.
Posture: Sits on a lotus, signifying purity and detachment.
Arms: Four arms — two holding lotus flowers, one holding her child, and one in Abhaya Mudra (gesture of blessing).

🔱 Why Is She Worshipped During Navratri?

Each day of Navratri celebrates a different form of Durga. On the fifth day:

Devotees seek her blessings for family protection, intelligence, and spiritual growth.
Especially auspicious for mothers, children, and those seeking inner strength.

🪔 Conclusion: Worship of Goddess Skandamata

On the fifth day of Navratri, devotees worship Goddess Skandamata, the nurturing yet powerful mother of Lord Skanda (Kartikeya). She symbolizes divine motherhood, courage, and wisdom.

Her worship not only blesses devotees with strength, peace, and spiritual growth, but also helps remove obstacles and ignorance from one’s life. Skandamata teaches that true strength lies in love, protection, and selfless care.

By meditating on her form — a mother holding her divine child while seated on a lion — we are reminded that compassion and power can coexist, and that the divine feminine protects, nurtures, and leads the soul toward liberation.

Here is the main mantra for Goddess Skandamata, chanted on the 5th day of Navratri:

🔱 Skandamata Mantra:

ॐ देवी स्कन्दमातायै नमः॥Om Devi Skandamatayai Namah

🕉️ This is the Navadurga mantra for invoking Skandamata. It is simple and powerful. You can chant it 11, 21, or 108 times.

🧘‍♀️ Dhyana Mantra (Meditative Verse):

सिंहासनगता नित्यं पद्माश्रितकरद्वया।शुभदास्तु सदा देवी स्कन्दमाता यशस्विनी॥

Meaning: "May Goddess Skandamata, who is seated on a lion and holds lotuses in both hands, always shower her auspicious blessings on us."

🙏 Benefits of Chanting Her Mantra:

Brings peace and protection to the family
Increases wisdom, devotion, and self-confidence
Helps overcome parenting difficulties or issues related to children
Awakens the Vishuddha Chakra (throat chakra) – enhancing expression and truth