Skandmata is worshiped on the fifth day of Navratri. This story is about why the Goddess is worshiped as Skandmata. Maa Skandmata is the fifth image of Goddess Durga. The word Skandmata is made up of two words – Skanda and Mata. Skanda means Kartike who is the son of Devi Parvati and Lord Shiva.
Skandmata is a form of Parvati Mata. Goddess Durga has four arms in the form of Skandmata. She is holding Kartike in one hand and in the second and third hand she is holding a lotus and with the fourth hand, she blesses the devotees. Mata’s ride is a lion and she is seated on a lotus, which is also called Padmasana.
Devi Maa is the goddess of the Vishuddha Chakra. This chakra is located just below our protruding part. Worshiping Devi Skand Mata awakens this chakra, due to which the person gets the victory of speech, and his life increases.
Story of Devi Parvatii as Skandmata
There is a very interesting story of Skanda Mata:
Hard Penance (Tapasya) of Devi Sati
After Sati burnt herself in the Yagya, Lord Shiva got separated from worldly matters and got absorbed in Tapasya. At the same time, all the gods were suffering due to the power of Tadakasur. Tadkasur had a boon or Vardan that only the child of Lord Shiva could kill him. After that Maharishi Narada goes to Mata Parvati and after doing this, Tapasya asks her to marry Lord Shiva so that the child born to her can kill Tadakasur. Goddess Parvati continued to do penance or Tapasya for Lord Shiva for thousands of years, but Lord Shiva did not pay attention to her penance.
Marmad(Kamdev) Used his power to attract Shiva toward Devi Parvati
On the other hand, Tarakasura was becoming more and more powerful, so the gods requested Marmad to use their power to attract them toward Parvati. And Marmad used his powers to meditate on the Shiva. Lord Shiva was distracted and became very angry and immediately opened his third eye and burnt Marmad to ashes. When Lord Shiva became calm, he saw that Parvati was doing penance for him. So Lord Shiva became more attracted to him.
A Powerful Spark generates from the love of Parvati and Lord Shiva
The third eye of Lord Shiva and the love of Parvati created a powerful spark but the spark of Shiva was so intense or energetic that even the god of fire was feeling the heat and he handed over that seed to Goddess Ganga so that Goddess Ganga Quiet the spark of Shiva with your coolness. But even Goddess Ganga could not calm the spark. Therefore Goddess Ganga took that seed to the forests of Shravan which was marshy or daldal. Now he handed over the care of this seed to 6 sisters who are known as Kritika.
The Powerful Spark turns into Divine Child Named Kartika
In course of time, this seed became a divine child who was the son of Lord Shiva and Parvati. Because that son was taken care of by 6 sisters (Kritika), his name was Kartika. Kartike is also known as Skanda. And his mother Parvati is known as Skandmata. Tadkasur had a boon or Vardan that only the child of Shiva could kill him. So Tadakasur was killed by Kartike during a war.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु माँ स्कंदमाता रूपेण संस्थिता।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः।।
Ya devi Sarvabhuteshu Skandmata Rupen Sansthita
Namastasye Namastasye Namastasye Namo Namh
Conclusion
Devi Skandamata has a great contribution to the death of Tadakasur because she gave birth to Skanda. Goddess Skandamata is considered to be the goddess of wisdom and sympathy. Goddess Skandmata is worshiped for getting children.
Whoever worships Skandmata with a true heart, the Goddess Maa definitely fulfills his or her wish. The worship of Skandmata is also done like the rest of the days of Navratri. Many women also worship Skandmata for getting a child.
Also Read:
First Day of Navratri: देवी शैलपुत्री
Fourth Day of Navratri: कुष्मांडा माता
