As the sacred fifth dawn of Chaitra Navratri awakens, the cosmos echoes with a mother’s song — a hymn of fierce love and infinite grace. Today, we honor Ma Skandamata, the nurturing embodiment of wisdom in action, the mother of Skanda — the divine warrior who leads the army of light.
She is the gentle cradle and the roaring lion. The still lotus and the pulsating power. In her lap rests the essence of divine knowledge, and in her eyes, the promise of unwavering protection.
She does not merely give birth to a god; she births the divine within us — the Skanda Tattva — the spark of courage guided by consciousness.
✺ Who is Goddess Skandamata? ✺
Skandamata is the fifth form of Navadurga, revered as the Mother of Kartikeya (Skanda). Her name blends two sacred words: Skanda, the fiery son of Shiva and Shakti, and Mata, the eternal mother.
Clothed in light and seated upon a lotus, she carries the six-headed infant Skanda in her arms while riding a lion — merging the roles of a tender nurturer and valiant protector.
She is the source of Kriyatmak Jnana — action inspired by true wisdom. When knowledge moves through love and action flows from the heart, it is Skandamata who rises within.
To worship her is to align your heart with divine guidance, and to awaken the inner strength needed to protect your peace and purpose.
✺ Symbolic Insights & Divine Attributes ✺
Deity Name in Devanagari: स्कन्दमाता
Day of Worship: Panchami (Day 5 of Navratri)
Planet: Mercury — the planet of intellect, clarity, and refined expression
Favorite Flower: Banana flower or Yellow Rose
Associated Chakra: Vishuddha (Throat Chakra) – the seat of expressive truth and divine communication
She is also called Padmasani (seated on lotus) and Shubhra (pure and radiant).
✺ Iconography of Ma Skandamata — The Sacred Balance of Love and Power ✺
Ma Skandamata’s divine form is a tapestry of serenity and strength, offering deep insights into spiritual motherhood and cosmic dharma.
🌸 Seated on a Lotus: She sits upon a fully bloomed lotus, symbolizing the awakening of inner truth amid the murky waters of life.
🦁 Lion Mount: Her lion represents spiritual fearlessness and the ability to defend one’s dharma with courage and clarity.
👶 Infant Skanda in Her Lap: Skanda, also known as Kartikeya or Shanmukha, has six heads symbolizing omniscient awareness and mastery over the six darshanas (philosophical systems of India). In her embrace lies not just a son, but the entire essence of sacred action and enlightened courage.
👐 Four Arms:
- Two hold blooming lotuses — symbols of purity and divine blossoming
- One holds her son tenderly — symbolizing selfless love
- One bestows Abhaya Mudra — a divine assurance of protection and peace
🕊️ No Weapons: Unlike her other forms, she carries no weapons — for her strength lies in divine grace, in the power of presence and unconditional love.
Her entire image speaks to the seeker: you are both protected and guided. You are both loved and led.
✺ The Tale of Divine Birth — Skanda’s Emergence from Tapas ✺
When the demon Tarakasura threatened the heavens, it was said that only the son of Shiva could destroy him. Thus began a celestial sequence of divine effort.
From the intense Tapas Shakti of Shiva and Parvati emerged a flame — too potent even for Agni, the fire god. It was placed in the reeds of Saravana, where Skanda was born as a radiant child.
Six celestial mothers (the Krittikas) were drawn to him, and the child grew six heads to embrace each of them. Thus he became Shanmukha, the one with six faces and infinite vision.
Later, Ma Parvati took him in her arms. In doing so, she became Skandamata — the mother of divine courage, of righteous knowledge, of victorious action.
✺ Esoteric Meaning — When Knowledge Becomes Action ✺
Skandamata represents the union of Jnana Shakti (wisdom) and Kriya Shakti (action). She is the midpoint between contemplation and execution, where inspired thoughts become righteous deeds.
Her presence in our spiritual journey teaches us:
- To act from clarity, not confusion
- To speak truth with compassion
- To balance silence with courage
She is the divine force that turns insight into impact.
✺ The Spiritual Gifts of Worshipping Ma Skandamata ✺
🌟 Removes obstacles and karmic burdens
🌟 Protects the devotee and their children from harm
🌟 Grants clarity of speech and expression
🌟 Awakens the throat chakra for truthful communication
🌟 Promotes wisdom, fertility, and emotional strength
🌟 Supports those on the path of selfless service
🌟 Enhances both intellectual and spiritual development
Her blessing is the embrace of a mother and the roar of a lion—wrapped into one radiant deity.
✺ Vishuddha Chakra — Voice of Divine Truth ✺
As the goddess who governs the Throat Chakra, Ma Skandamata helps you align your inner and outer voice. When the Vishuddha is open:
- Your words heal instead of hurt
- Your silence becomes sacred
- Your presence speaks louder than fear
Let her blue lotus bloom in your throat space, as a reminder that what you say becomes the vibration you live in.
✺ Tantric Invocation ✺
In Tantric texts, she is associated with the life-restoring energy of Mritsanjivani and the fierce transformative force of Chamunda. Her subtle power heals deep karmic wounds and shields the seeker from energetic harm.
Mantra:
🌸 Om Devi Skandamatre Namah 🌸
Let it echo through the corridors of your being.
✺ Daily Rituals for Day 5 of Navratri ✺
Color to Wear: Royal Blue or White
Flower Offering: Yellow rose or banana flower
Naivedya (Offering): Kheer, bananas, coconut
Mantra Japa: ॐ देवी स्कन्दमातायै नमः
Meditative Practice: Visualize a radiant blue lotus at your throat, expanding with each breath, clearing away blocks to self-expression and truth.
Sacred Act: Offer milk to a banana tree, symbolizing fertility, growth, and the nurturing essence of Ma.
Mantra
ॐ देवी स्कन्दमातायै नमः॥
Om Devi Skandamatayai Namah॥
Prarthana
सिंहासनगता नित्यं पद्माञ्चित करद्वया।
शुभदास्तु सदा देवी स्कन्दमाता यशस्विनी॥
Simhasanagata Nityam Padmanchita Karadvaya।
Shubhadastu Sada Devi Skandamata Yashasvini॥
Stuti
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु माँ स्कन्दमाता रूपेण संस्थिता। नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥
Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Ma Skandamata Rupena Samsthita।
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah॥
Dhyana
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॥
Vande Vanchhita Kamarthe Chandrardhakritashekharam।
Simharudha Chaturbhuja Skandamata Yashasvinim॥
Dhawalavarna Vishuddha Chakrasthitom Panchama Durga Trinetram।
Abhaya Padma Yugma Karam Dakshina Uru Putradharam Bhajem॥
Patambara Paridhanam Mriduhasya Nanalankara Bhushitam।
Manjira, Hara, Keyura, Kinkini, Ratnakundala Dharinim॥
Praphulla Vandana Pallavadharam Kanta Kapolam Pina Payodharam।
Kamaniyam Lavanyam Charu Triwali Nitambanim॥
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॥
Namami Skandamata Skandadharinim।
Samagratatvasagaram Paraparagaharam॥
Shivaprabha Samujvalam Sphuchchhashagashekharam।
Lalataratnabhaskaram Jagatpradipti Bhaskaram॥
Mahendrakashyaparchita Sanantakumara Samstutam।
Surasurendravandita Yatharthanirmaladbhutam॥
Atarkyarochiruvijam Vikara Doshavarjitam।
Mumukshubhirvichintitam Visheshatatvamuchitam॥
Nanalankara Bhushitam Mrigendravahanagrajam।
Sushuddhatatvatoshanam Trivedamara Bhushanam॥
Sudharmikaupakarini Surendra Vairighatinim।
Shubham Pushpamalinim Suvarnakalpashakhinim॥
Tamoandhakarayamini Shivasvabhavakaminim।
Sahasrasuryarajikam Dhanajjayogakarikam॥
Sushuddha Kala Kandala Subhridavrindamajjulam।
Prajayini Prajawati Namami Mataram Satim॥
Swakarmakarane Gatim Hariprayacha Parvatim।
Anantashakti Kantidam Yashoarthabhuktimuktidam॥
Punah Punarjagadditam Namamyaham Surarchitam।
Jayeshwari Trilochane Prasida Devi Pahimam॥
Kavacha
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॥
Aim Bijalinka Devi Padayugmadharapara।
Hridayam Patu Sa Devi Kartikeyayuta॥
Shri Hrim Hum Aim Devi Parvasya Patu Sarvada।
Sarvanga Mein Sada Patu Skandamata Putraprada॥
Vanavanamritem Hum Phat Bija Samanvita।
Uttarasya Tathagne Cha Varune Nairiteavatu॥
Indrani Bhairavi Chaivasitangi Cha Samharini।
Sarvada Patu Mam Devi Chanyanyasu Hi Dikshu Vai॥
Aarti
जय तेरी हो स्कन्द माता। पाँचवाँ नाम तुम्हारा आता॥
सबके मन की जानन हारी। जग जननी सबकी महतारी॥
तेरी जोत जलाता रहूँ मैं। हरदम तुझे ध्याता रहूँ मै॥
कई नामों से तुझे पुकारा। मुझे एक है तेरा सहारा॥
कही पहाड़ों पर है डेरा। कई शहरों में तेरा बसेरा॥
हर मन्दिर में तेरे नजारे। गुण गाये तेरे भक्त प्यारे॥
भक्ति अपनी मुझे दिला दो। शक्ति मेरी बिगड़ी बना दो॥
इन्द्र आदि देवता मिल सारे। करे पुकार तुम्हारे द्वारे॥
दुष्ट दैत्य जब चढ़ कर आये। तू ही खण्ड हाथ उठाये॥
दासों को सदा बचाने आयी। भक्त की आस पुजाने आयी॥