Chaitra Navratri 2023: Why do people worship Skandamata on Day 5 of Chaitra Navratri?

Chaitra Navratri 2023: The nine-day-long festival began on 22nd March and will end on 30th March. Maa Durga has a total of nine different incarnations, and the fifth day of Navratri is devoted to Goddess Skanda Mata. Individuals worship her to be blessed with a child and to relieve anxiety issues.

Date

On Panchami Tithi of Shukla Paksha in the month of Chaitra, or March 26, 2023, people worship this manifestation of Goddess Durga.

Story

Skanda is another name for Lord Kartikeya; hence, Skandamata refers to the mother of the mythological god. Tarkasur strictly prayed for years to Lord Brahma and requested a blessing to become immortal, which he refused. But Tarkasur asked for death from Lord Shiva's son, as he believed Lord Shiva practised austerity and would never marry Maa Parvati. Lord Brahma granted him the wishful blessing.


However, Lord Vishnu said that Maa Parvati (Goddess Sati) and Lord Shiva were predestined to marry, and Lord Kartikeya was born. He demolished Tarkasur, and since then, Maa Parvati is also known as Skandamata.

Significance

Skanda Mata rides a lion while holding the young Kartikeya or Murugan. As a baby, Lord Kartikeya had six faces. She is the goddess of the Vishuddh Chakra, which refers to "pure in all directions," as the name suggests. She holds a lotus in both her hands.

She has the snow-white complexion of Shubhra.

Those who worship Skanda Mata on this day become free from all tensions and have their wishes fulfilled.

Puja Samagri

Desi ghee, an incense stick, flowers, laung, supari, an earthen pot, paan, kumkum, gangajal, elaichi, and shringaar items

Puja Vidhi

Get up early, take a bath, and wear neat clothes. Clean the home and sprinkle gangajal. Begin the puja by lighting a diya with desi ghee. Offer flowers, paan, elaichi, two laung, and supari. Recite the Durga Chalisa, Skanda Mata mantra, and Durga Saptashati path. Present bhog and break the fast.

Mantra

सिंहासनगता नित्यं पद्माञ्चित करद्वया । शुभदास्तु सदा देवी स्कन्दमाता यशस्विनी ॥

Simhasanagata Nityam Padmanchita Karadvaya, Shubhada Tu Sada Devi Skandamata Yashasvini..!!

Goddess Skandamata Stuti:

Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Ma Skandamata Rupena Samsthita, Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah..!!

FAQs:

1. When will Skandamata be worshipped?
   26th March.
2. Who was the son of SkandaMata?
   Lord Kartikeya.