Skandamata – About Goddess Skanda Mata

Skandamata is the Goddess worshipped on the fifth day of the nine days of Navratri Puja. Mother Goddess is known as Skanda Mata because she is the mother of Skanda or Kartik or Muruga – the commander of the army of Devas.

Goddess Skanda Mata rides on a lion. Sometimes she is depicted as riding on a peacock.  She sits on her Vahana or vehicle in the lotus position – padmasana. Thus she is also known as Padmasan Devi.

Skanda Mata is four armed. She holds lotuses in her two hands. With one hand she holds the young six headed Skanda or Kartik. One of her hand is in Varada Mudra posture.

           

Story of Skandamata

Three demons – Surapadma, Simhamukha and Tarakasura – armed with powerful boon that only a son born of Shiva would kill them embarked on a massive rampage and devastation.

The demons were of the belief that Shiva who was in deep meditation will not return to the life of a householder. So they thought the one destined to fight them will never be born.

On advice of Brahma, Kamdev deployed his arrows on flowers to wake up Shiva from his meditation and instill passion for the benefit of the world. Kamdev succeeded in his mission

The divine spark that emanated from Shiva as a result divided into six and Vayu (wind) and Agni (fire) carried them and deposited it in Ganga. The Holy River placed them in a cluster of weeds and here the sparks assumed the form of six babies.

The six Devis (goddess) of Karthikai – the third constellation of the 27 birth stars – took care of the six babies. Goddess Parvati on realizing that the divine manifestation has taken place rushed to the spot and lifted the six babies up. Suddenly the six faces and twelve hands merged into One – Skanda was born.

Related
Skanda Mata Mantra