Navratri 2022: Day 5 of the auspicious festival of Navratri is dedicated to Maa Skandamata. The nine-day festival worships the nine avatars of Goddess Durga, which are - Maa Shailputri, Maa Brahmcharini, Maa Chandraghanta, Maa Kushmanda, Maa Skandmata, Maa Katyayani, Maa Kaalratri, Maa Mahagauri and Maa Siddhidatri. On fifth day, we worship Maa Skandmata. Skanda is another name for Kartikeya and Mata means mother. In other words, she is the mother of Lord Kartikeya. She is known to bless her devotees with power, salvation, prosperity and treasures and can grant wisdom to the most illiterate person provided he worships her.
She is the deity of fire and is portrayed on a lion with a lotus in her hands and baby Karthikeya in her lap. She has four hands, two of which hold the lotuses, one holds 'Skand' and the last one is in Abhaya Mudra. It is said that because of Maa Skandamata, Sanskrit scholar Kalidasa was able to create two masterpieces – ‘Raghuvansh Maha Kavya' and ‘Meghdoot.' This avatar of Goddess Durga governs the planet Budha.
Maa Skandamata Puja Vidhi
A picture/idol of Mata Skandamata should be installed first and later cleaned with gangajal or cow urine. Keep a pot made out of brass or sand and place a coconut above it. On the same table, keep Lord Ganesha, Lord Varun, Navagraha, Shodash Matrika (16 Goddesses), and Sapta Ghrit Matrika (Put seven sindoor dots). After that perform puja using items such as milk, fruits, flowers, sindoor, roli, clothes for the Goddess and other adornments. Finish the puja by performing aarti.
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Maa Skandamata Mantra
Vande Vanchit Kamarth Chandrardhkrit Shekharam
Sinharuda Chaturbhuja Skandamata Yashswanim
Dhwalvarna Vishudhd Chakrstithto Pancham Durga Trinetram
Abhay Padya Yugam Karaan Dakshin Uru Putradharam Bhajem
Patambar Paridhanan Mriduhasya Nanalankar Bhooshitam
Manjeer Haar Keyoor, Kinkini, Ratnakundal Manditam
Praful Vandana Pallavandhara Kaant Kapolan Peen Payodharam
Kamniya Lavanya Charu Trivali Nitambaneem
Maa Skandamata Stotra Path
Namami Skandmata Skandharineem
Samagrtatvasagarrampaarpaar Gehraam
Shivaprabha Samujwalan Sphuchshagshekharam
Lalatratnabhaskaran Jagatprintibhaskaram
Mahendrakashyaparchita Sanantkumarrasstutam
Surasurendravandita Yatharthnirmaladbhutam
Atarkyrochiruvijan Vikar Doshvarjitam
Mumukshubhivirchintta Visheshtatvamuchitam
Nanalankar Bhushitan Mrigendravahnagrajam
Sushudhtatvatoshna Trivendmarbhustam
Sudhamirkawpkarini Surendrakaurighatineem
Shubhan Pushpamalini Sukarnkalpshakhineem
Tamondhkaryamini Shivsvabhao Kaminineem
Sahastrasuryarajika Dhanjjyogkarikaam
Sushudh Kaal Kandala Subhadvrindmajullam
Prajayini Prajavati Namami Matarn Sateem
Svakarmakarini Gati Hariprayach Parvateem
Anantshakti Kantidan Yashoarthbhuktimuktitdam
Puna Punarjagdavitan Namamyhan Surachirtam
Jayeshwari Trilochane Praseed Devipahimaam
Maa Skandamata Stuti
Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Ma Skandamata Rupena Samsthita |
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah ||
