The fifth Avatar of goddess Durga, Skandmata is worshipped on the fifth day of the Navratri festival. She is the mother of Skanda Kumar (lord Karthikeya) who is the brother of lord Ganesha. Lord Karthikeya was the commander in chief against the war of demons. Skandmata is the daughter of Himalaya and wife of the lord Shiva. The Navratri fifth day puja’s rituals are the same as it is on other days.
The other names of Skandmata are Mata Gauri, Uma, Parvathi, Padamasana Devi and Maheswari. Here are the reasons why she is called by these names. She is the mother of Skanda Kumar so she is known as Skandmata. She has the Gaur Varna so the name Mata Gauri comes. She is the daughter of king of mountains so she is known as Parvathi. Being seated on the lotus in state of meditation, she is called by the name Padamasana Devi. She married to lord Mahadev hence called with the name Maheswari.
Devi Skanda Mata full-fills all the wishes of her devotees from all over the world. The devotees who worship this form of Goddess Durga get Moksha (Get free from the cycle of birth and death).
When people worship goddess Skandmata on the fifth day of Navaratri, they are automatically worshipping lord Murgan/lord Karthikeya (in baby form).
Skanda Mata has bright complexion, have four hands and three eyes and rides the roaring lion. In her upper two hands, she carries lotus flower while in below right hand, she holds Skanda Kumar (six faced) in his infant form or baby Murgan in her lap. Lord Karthikeya is also known as lord Murgan or Skanda Kumar. The fourth hand, below left hand is in Abhaya Mudra for blessing the devotees. She is often depicted seated on a lotus flower in the idol that is why she is also called Devi Padmasana. The fifth day of Navratri or Devi Skandmata is a symbol of mother-son relationship. On Navratri fifth day, the Devotees who worship Lord Skanda Mata with huge devotion and pure mind/soul blessed with love and affection.
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