Skandmata Mata - Navratri Fifth Day

Skandmata Mata is worshipped on the fifth day of Navratri. Her name means: ‘Skanda’ - Lord Kartikeya/Murugan and ‘Mata’ - mother. Hence, this name means that she is the mother of the Skanda (Lord Karthikeya).

About Skandmata

Maa Skandmata has four arms and she rides on a lion. 2 of her arms carry lotus, 1 arm carry baby Kartikeya, and another one stays in the Abhaya Mudra. As she sits on the lotus, Goddess Padmasana is her another name. She is the Goddess who can bless her devotees with power and prosperity. Also, she can bless her worshipper with immense intelligence as well as salvation. She is also considered as the Goddess of fire. As she is the epitome of motherly love in this form, devotees get blessed with her immense love.

Legend

As the legend goes, there was a great demon, Tarkasur. He did extreme penance for years to impress Lord Brahma; and finally the Lord appeared in front of him. He, then, requested for a boon of becoming immortal. Brahma Ji explained that death is inescapable on this planet earth. Being quite witty, he thought that Shiva will never get married, as he is an ascetic. So, he requested Brahma to grant him a boon that he can only be killed by the son of Shiva. Lord Brahma agreed on this and he started torturing the world thinking that he cannot be killed.

Being tortured, all the Devtas visited Lord Shiva and requested to him to get married. Hence, he married Goddess Parvati and became the father of Lord Kathikeya (Skand Kumar). When Kartikeya grew up, he killed the Demon Tarkasur and saved everyone.

Astrological Aspect

Planet Mercury (Budh) is ruled by Goddess Skandmata. Worshipping her kills the ill effects of Mercury.

Mantras

ॐ देवी स्कन्दमातायै नमः॥

Prarthana Mantra:

सिंहासनगता नित्यं पद्माञ्चित करद्वया।
शुभदास्तु सदा देवी स्कन्दमाता यशस्विनी॥

Stuti:

या देवी सर्वभू‍तेषु माँ स्कन्दमाता रूपेण संस्थिता।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥

Dhyana Mantra:

वन्दे वाञ्छित कामार्थे चन्द्रार्धकृतशेखराम्।
सिंहरूढ़ा चतुर्भुजा स्कन्दमाता यशस्विनीम्॥
धवलवर्णा विशुध्द चक्रस्थितों पञ्चम दुर्गा त्रिनेत्राम्।
अभय पद्म युग्म करां दक्षिण उरू पुत्रधराम् भजेम्॥
पटाम्बर परिधानां मृदुहास्या नानालङ्कार भूषिताम्।
मञ्जीर, हार, केयूर, किङ्किणि, रत्नकुण्डल धारिणीम्॥
प्रफुल्ल वन्दना पल्लवाधरां कान्त कपोलाम् पीन पयोधराम्।
कमनीयां लावण्यां चारू त्रिवली नितम्बनीम्॥

Stotra:

नमामि स्कन्दमाता स्कन्दधारिणीम्।
समग्रतत्वसागरम् पारपारगहराम्॥
शिवाप्रभा समुज्वलां स्फुच्छशागशेखराम्।
ललाटरत्नभास्करां जगत्प्रदीप्ति भास्कराम्॥
महेन्द्रकश्यपार्चितां सनत्कुमार संस्तुताम्।
सुरासुरेन्द्रवन्दिता यथार्थनिर्मलाद्भुताम्॥
अतर्क्यरोचिरूविजां विकार दोषवर्जिताम्।
मुमुक्षुभिर्विचिन्तितां विशेषतत्वमुचिताम्॥
नानालङ्कार भूषिताम् मृगेन्द्रवाहनाग्रजाम्।
सुशुध्दतत्वतोषणां त्रिवेदमार भूषणाम्॥
सुधार्मिकौपकारिणी सुरेन्द्र वैरिघातिनीम्।
शुभां पुष्पमालिनीं सुवर्णकल्पशाखिनीम्
तमोऽन्धकारयामिनीं शिवस्वभावकामिनीम्।
सहस्रसूर्यराजिकां धनज्जयोग्रकारिकाम्॥
सुशुध्द काल कन्दला सुभृडवृन्दमज्जुलाम्।
प्रजायिनी प्रजावति नमामि मातरम् सतीम्॥
स्वकर्मकारणे गतिं हरिप्रयाच पार्वतीम्।
अनन्तशक्ति कान्तिदां यशोअर्थभुक्तिमुक्तिदाम्॥
पुनः पुनर्जगद्धितां नमाम्यहम् सुरार्चिताम्।
जयेश्वरि त्रिलोचने प्रसीद देवी पाहिमाम्॥

Kavacha Mantra:

ऐं बीजालिंका देवी पदयुग्मधरापरा।
हृदयम् पातु सा देवी कार्तिकेययुता॥
श्री ह्रीं हुं ऐं देवी पर्वस्या पातु सर्वदा।
सर्वाङ्ग में सदा पातु स्कन्दमाता पुत्रप्रदा॥
वाणवाणामृते हुं फट् बीज समन्विता।
उत्तरस्या तथाग्ने च वारुणे नैॠतेअवतु॥
इन्द्राणी भैरवी चैवासिताङ्गी च संहारिणी।
सर्वदा पातु मां देवी चान्यान्यासु हि दिक्षु वै॥

With this, we hope that you will make the best of Navratri’s fifth day. May Skandmata Durga blesses you with all the goodness of life.

Happy Navratri!