In Hinduism, many gods and goddesses have manifested themselves as incarnations and established the truth and dharma in different time periods and eras.
Goddess Durga and her 9 incarnations also offer the same story. Each of these nine is worshipped on different but successive 9 days during the Navratri festival days.
This Sneh Post unveils information about Navratri day 5 and the goddess of the fifth day of Navratri, “Skandamata”.
About Navratri Day 5
Skandamata Puja on Panchami (Navratri Durga Puja on Day 5)
People worship Skandamata this day. People call this day Durga Puja Day 5 too because Skandamata is a form of their revered Goddess Durga.
Skandamata Puja Vidhi
Worship Rituals
Significance of Skandamata Puja
The worshippers of Devi Skandamata believe that she is the mother of the entire universe and the way she protects her son Lord Skanda (Lord Kartikeya), the same way she will protect them too from all kinds of evil.
In addition to this, devotees believe that their worship offerings to this form of Goddess Parvati will bestow the benefits from Lord Kartikeya too. They hold faith that only Goddess Skandamata’s worship can provide them these special blessings of Lord Skanda.
Goddess Skandamata’s Shubhra complexion depicts the brightness and gracefulness that also people seek while worshipping her.
It is also believed that Goddess Skandamata governs the planet Buddha.
About Goddess Skandamata
Devnagari Name: Skandamata
Origin
Lord Skanda was the first son of Goddess Parvati. He is also known as Lord Kartikeya. When he came into appearance, the devotees started calling Maa Parvati with a new name in joy- Goddess Skandamata.
Nomenclature
The word Skandamata is made of two Sanskrit words ‘Skanda’ and ‘Mata’. Here Skanda refers to Kartikeya, the son of Parvati, and Mata means ‘mother’. Thus the literal meaning of Skandamata is the mother of Skanda or Kartikeya.
Goddess Skandamata is known as Goddess Padmasana because she is also portrayed as be seating on her asana (seat) of the Padma, the Lotus flower.
Depiction of Skandamata
Skandamata goddess is depicted with four arms, holding her baby and riding her Vahan (vehicle) lion, the ferocious king of the forest.
The upper two hands of Devi hold the Lotus flowers. The lower left-hand embraces the baby Lord Murugan in the quiescent state. The lower right hand rests in Abhaya Mudra that assures her worshippers of protection and her good blessings.
Other than the name “Skanda”, Lord Kartikeya is also known as Lord Murugan who is the elder brother of “first-worshipped” Lord Ganesha.
Favorite Flower
This form of Goddess Durga likes flowers of red color.
