Goddess Skandamata
About Goddess Skandamata
Goddess Skandamata is the most fifth symbol of Goddess Durga and is venerated on the fifth day of Navratri. Skanda is another name for Lord Kartikeya (Ma Parvati's child and Lord Ganesha's sibling). Mata means mother and therefore Skandamata means mother of Skanda or Kartikeya. As is obvious from the name, she is another form of Goddess Parvati.
Iconography of Goddess Skandamata
In this structure, Durga has four arms. She holds Kartikeya (Skanda) in one hand, holds a lotus in the second and the third hand and blesses Her worshippers with the fourth hand through the Abhaya mudra. She rides a lion and sits on a lotus (because of which she is likewise called Padmasana). Kartikeya is otherwise called Lord Murugan in South India. He is the president of the military of divine beings.
The birth of Kartikeya and end of Evil Spirit Tarakasura
Lord Kartikeya’s birth is a fascinating story. After Sati immolated Herself, Shiva detached Himself from the world and started doing penance and punished Himself. During this period, the Gods (devas) were attacked by the evil spirits (asuras) who were being driven by Surapadman and Tarakasura. The dangerous asura Tarakasura could only be killed by Lord Shiva’s son. Expecting that Shiva may never have a child, all the deities went to Lord Vishnu to seek His assistance. Lord Vishnu told the Gods that it was the Gods themselves who were responsible for this critical situation. Had they not gone to Daksha Prajapati's yagna without Lord Shiva, Sati would have never immolated Herself. At that point Lord Vishu also educated them about Parvati, He told the Gods that Parvati was a manifestation of Adi Shakti and bound to be Shiva's associate. Listening to this all the Gods told Narada to approach Parvati Maa. Rishi Narada approached Parvati and revealed to Her that if she undertook penance and outrageous atonement, She would get Lord Shiva as Her associate, who was likewise Her consort in the past birth. Years past, decades past and then Lord Shiva looking at Her penance, dedication, patience and truthfulness married goddess Parvati.
The divine energies of Lord Shiva and Parvati gave birth to a red hot seed. Lord Agni was told to take the seed securely to Saravana Lake till the brilliance from the seed turns into Shiva's child. The warmth from the seed was so powerful that Lord Agni could not withstand it and so He handed the seed to Goddess Ganga who securely took it to the lake in woods Saravana. Goddess Parvati at that point appeared as the water body as only She was fit to carry the seed of her partner, Shiva. Afterward, Lord Kartikeya, the six faced God was born who was nurtured by six Krittikas (moms). He in this way gets the name Kartikeya. He grew up to be an attractive, canny and ground-breaking youth and subsequently got his name Kumara (Youth in Sanskrit). Kartikeya was to be educated by Brahma however on the principal day he solicited Brahma the importance from Om. Brahma clarified him the importance in twelve thousand sections, however He was not fulfilled. He posed a similar inquiry to Shiva who clarified him the importance in twelve lakh sections. Still unsatisfied, He himself clarified the significance of Om in twelve crore stanzas. Being the commander-in-chief of the army of the Gods, He is honoured by all the gods who blessed Him with uncommon weapons to fight the war against Tarakasura and Surapadman. The battle between Lord Kartikeya and Tarakasura began and Lord Kartikeya killed the evil Tarakasura.
Boons of worshipping Skandamata:
In this manner, Ma Skandamata is loved as the mother of a remarkably skilled child. When a devotee worships Goddess Skandamata, Lord Kartikeya is naturally venerated as He is always carved or painted sitting in His mother’s lap. She bestows love prompts harmony, success and salvation to all Her devotees.