The fifth manifestation of Devi Durga is known as Maa Skandamata. Devi Maa is the mother of Kumara Skanda or Kumara Kartikeya also called Lord Murugan in south India. So on 5th day worshipping is the motherly appearance of Durga. In this form, she is the mother of Lord Karthikeya, also known as Skanda the "seed throw".
Demon-shattering Kartikeya, despite being the son of Parvati and Shiva, was raised by seven sisters, whose stars shine so brightly and so close to the Earth that the Greeks knew them as the seven sisters, the Pleiades, in Veda Krittika.
Skandamata Devi is pure compassion and nourishment, she has four arms, three eyes and a luminous complexion; she rides a lion and represents motherly affection, commitment and hard work. With right hand shows Abhaya Mudra, holding her son safely with the other; other two hands stand two lotus flowers.
Skandamata Devi is also considered the Mother of fire, Her planet is Mercury and her chakra is the fifth, Visuddha.
Bestow Wisdom, Power, Prosperity and Wealth. Those who adore her with sincerity controlling their senses and the mind will be satisfied in all its desires and will be rewarded with great knowledge
In her image the Lord Skanda in his infant form is always found. She holds him in her lap. Using a lion as a vehicle, Mother Goddess has four arms & three eyes. She holds Lord Skanda in her right upper arm and a lotus flower in her right lower hand, which is slightly raised upward. The left upper arm is in a pose to grant boon and in left lower hand, which is raised, she again holds lotus. She is Golden color. She is seated on lotus flower so she is called Padmasana.
When Shiva became detached from the world, the mighty demon, Taraka was busy destroying it. The devas were very anxious that Shiva should get a child since it was said that only the son of Shiva would be able to kill this ferocious asura, who had usurped the heavens. However, Shiva’s seed could not be contained in any woman’s womb so it was caught by Agni, the God of Fire who threw it into the River Ganga to cool it. Ganga carried it down until it became lodged in a pond of reeds where the cluster of six stars known as the Krittikas or Pleiades came and nursed the infant. Shiva and Parvati traced his whereabouts and took him off to Kailasa and anointed him as the general of the devas. Later he led the army of the gods and killed Tarakasura.
Parvati is known as the mother of Skanda or Kartikeya even though she never bore him in her womb nor nursed him. Shiva, merged the six babies into one infant with six faces, who came to be known as Shanmukha (six-faced). Since he was nursed by the Krittikas he was also known as Kartikeya.
Parvati, in her role as the mother of Skanda or Shanmukha, came to be known as Skandamata. One who worships her also gets the benefit of worshipping Skanda.
Skandamata is the very epitome of maternal love. She has a golden complexion, three eyes and a calm face. She is seated upon the back of a lion and adorned with only a few ornaments. She is dressed in orange and yellow clothes and has the brilliance of the sun.
She gives her devotees salvation, power and prosperity. She can grant wisdom even to the most illiterate person if she worships her with complete devotion. He who is selflessly devoted to her attains all the achievements and treasures of life.
The scriptures are very eloquent in glorifying the fifth day of Navaratra period. As the mind of the aspirant, on this day, is in the Visuddha Cakra. So all his actions internal as well as external completely stop and the mind bereft of all thought-waves, is calm like a wave less ocean. It would be advancing towards the state of pure consciousness. It is completely submerged in the meditation of Mother Padmasana, quite devoid of worldly thoughts or coats of Maya. It is time when the aspirant should be most careful and cautious on the path of his Sadhana.
By worshiping the goddess in the form of Skandamata, the devotee gets all his desires fulfilled. He starts tasting the Supreme joy even in this very mortal world. The gateway for salvation to him is spontaneously opened. Her worship automatically includes the worship of Lord Skanda in his child form. Only she has got this pride of place. So the sadhak should particularly be attentive to her worship. She bestows an uncommon luster and radiance on her devotee. He is always surrounded by an invisible divine halo, which always maintains his ‘Yoga-Ksema’.
Her planet is Mercury.
Oṁ Devī Skandamātāyai Namaḥ!
ॐ देवी स्कन्दमातायै नमः॥
