Maa Skandamata is the fifth of the nine Navadurga forms. She is the mother of Bhagwan Skanda, also called Kartikeya. In 2026, devotees worship her on Thursday, 15 October, on Ashwin Shukla Panchami. She has four arms, sits on a lotus, and holds infant Skanda in her lap. Devotees wear yellow, offer bananas, and chant Om Devi Skandamatayai Namah.
Each day reveals a new roop of Adi Shakti, grounding us, disciplining us, filling us with courage, and helping us rise higher in spirit. On the fifth day of Navratri, we bow to Maa Skandamata, the embodiment of a mother’s boundless love, patience, and strength.
She is called Maa Skandamata because she is the mother of Lord Skanda, also known as Kartikeya or Murugan, the commander of the divine armies. But beyond her name, her form teaches us something universal that motherhood is the highest strength and the cosiest shelter at the same time.
But why does Maa Parvati carry her son’s name? And how did she become his mother? This guide answers both questions from the texts. It also covers the Maa Skandamata story, puja vidhi, mantra, bhog, and aarti.
Key Takeaways
- Maa Skandamata is the fifth Navadurga form and the mother of Bhagwan Skanda (Kartikeya).
- Her name means mother of Skanda.
- She has four arms, sits on a lotus, and rides a lion.
- The Navratri Day 5 colour 2026 is yellow, and the favourite bhog is banana.
- Chant the Maa Skandamata mantra, then sing Maa Skandamata ki Aarti after the bhog.
Navratri Day 5 at a Glance
| Detail | Answer |
| Goddess | Maa Skandamata, fifth of the nine Navadurga |
| Navratri Day 5 date 2026 | Thursday, 15 October 2026 (Ashwin Shukla Panchami) |
| Navratri Day 5 colour 2026 | Yellow (Thursday) |
| Arms | Four |
| Seat and mount | Lotus (Padmasana) and lion |
| Child in her lap | Infant Skanda (Kartikeya) |
| Bhog | Bananas, kheer, and white sweets |
| Simple mantra | Om Devi Skandamatayai Namah |
| Tradition links her with | Mercury (Budh) and the Vishuddha chakra |
| Scripture for her place in the nine forms | Devi Kavacha, verses 3 to 5 |
Who Is Maa Skandamata? Meaning, Arms and Seat
Maa Skandamata is the motherly form of Maa Parvati, worshipped on the fifth day of Navratri. The Devi Kavacha lists her fifth among the Navadurga.
What is the meaning of Skandamata?
The name joins Skanda and mata. Mata means mother, so Skandamata means the mother of Skanda. In Hindi: मां स्कंदमाता का अर्थ है स्कंद की माता. The Devi Kavacha preserves the name and its order:
Panchamam Skandamateti, shashtham Katyayaniti cha.
Devi Kavacha, verses 3 to 5 (numbering varies by edition)
How many arms does Maa Skandamata have, and what does she hold?
Maa Skandamata has four arms. Her dhyan mantra shows two hands holding lotuses. One hand makes the abhaya mudra, the gesture of fearlessness. One arm holds infant Skanda on her right lap. She smiles calmly and has a white complexion.
| Symbol | Interpretation |
| Two lotuses | Purity and grace |
| Abhaya mudra | Protection and fearlessness for devotees |
| Infant Skanda | Eternal motherhood |
| White complexion | Peace and clarity of mind |
Why does Maa Skandamata ride a lion?
The lion is the Devi’s traditional mount. In the Devi Mahatmya, chapter 2, Himavan gifts the Devi a lion. Teachers read the lion as courage. In her motherly form, it shows that a mother’s calm carries real strength.
Why is Maa Skandamata seated on a lotus?
Maa Skandamata sits in Padmasana, the lotus posture, so devotees also call her Padmasana Devi. The prarthana confirms the lotus. Teachers read the lotus as purity that rises above the mud of the world. This reading is an interpretation.
Who Is Skanda, the Son of Maa Skandamata?
Skanda is the divine commander of the devas, the son of Bhagwan Shiv and Maa Parvati. He is the same deity as Kartikeya.
| Name | Where devotees use it |
| Skanda | Sanskrit texts and pan-Indian worship |
| Kartikeya | Means the foster-son of the Krittikas |
| Kumara | Means the youthful prince |
| Shanmukha | Means the six-faced one |
| Murugan | The Tamil name |
| Subrahmanya | Common in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala |
So the answer to “Is Skanda the same as Kartikeya?” is yes. Scholars note that Murugan has distinct Tamil roots that merged with Skanda over time. The Bhagavad Gita names him as the ideal commander:
purodhasāṁ cha mukhyaṁ māṁ viddhi pārtha bṛihaspatim
senānīnām ahaṁ skandaḥ sarasām asmi sāgaraḥ
Meaning: O Arjun, amongst priests, I am Brihaspati; amongst warrior chiefs I am Kartikeya; and amongst reservoirs of water, know Me to be the ocean.
Maa Skandamata Katha: How Maa Parvati Became Skandamata
This Maa Skandamata katha blends the Ramayana, Kalidasa, and devotional retelling. Hindi readers also search for Navratri ke 5ve din ki katha. The Hinglish guide below retells it briefly. The notes also mark which source says what.
The Maa Skandamata story in brief
The devas needed a commander, because the asura Tarakasura had grown invincible. Only a son of Bhagwan Shiv could end him. That son, Skanda, took birth in a forest of reeds, and the Krittikas raised him. Years later, Maa Parvati found the child, and her heart melted. She lifted him into her arms and became Skandamata.
Tarakasura’s boon and the gods’ prayer
Kalidasa begins the story with the gods’ fear. In the Kumarasambhava, canto 2, the devas approach Brahma about Tarakasura. Brahma tells them that a son of Shiv will lead their army.
So the whole universe waited for that child. The gods had to wait for Bhagwan Shiv and Maa Parvati to unite. That wait shaped everything that followed.
A fire too fierce to hold
The Valmiki Ramayana tells how Skanda came into the world (Bala Kanda, sargas 36 and 37). Bhagwan Shiv’s divine energy could not stay in one place. The gods asked Agni to carry it. Agni passed it to Maa Ganga, and she placed it in a forest of reeds, the Sharavana.
There, the Krittikas found the baby and nursed him. That is why the world calls him Kartikeya. The Valmiki Ramayana also records Maa Uma’s anger at the gods. They had interrupted her union with Shiv. The Mahabharata (Vana Parva) tells a variant of the birth. A devotional retelling says Skanda rose from the fire of their tapas.
Why Maa Parvati became Skandamata
Devotional tradition tells the next scene with great tenderness. Years later, Maa Parvati came to the forest. The moment she saw the child, her heart melted. She lifted him, pressed him close, and claimed him as her own.
From that instant, she was Maa Skandamata. She did not carry him in her womb. Love made her his mother. No primary text cited here narrates this meeting, so it belongs to devotional tradition.
What the Maa Skandamata katha teaches
This katha teaches that motherhood begins with love, not with birth. Maa Parvati holds a soft heart and a lion’s courage together. Rishis read the story as a lesson in compassion with strength. This reading is an interpretation, not a scriptural quote.
Which Goddess Do Devotees Worship on the Fifth Day of Navratri?
Devotees worship Maa Skandamata on the fifth day of Navratri. The Devi Kavacha lists her fifth, and the Panchami tithi marks the fifth day.
The sequence also tells a story. Day 4 shows Maa Kushmanda creating the cosmos with a smile. Day 5 shows Maa Skandamata nurturing the child who will protect it. So creation leads to care.
This reading is an interpretation. The order of the names comes from the Devi Kavacha. Anyone who asks about the Maa Skandamata story and its place in Navratri finds the same order.
Maa Skandamata Puja Vidhi: How to Worship at Home
Begin with a tidy puja space and a loving heart. Then offer white flowers, bananas, mantra, and aarti. This Navratri Day 5 puja vidhi follows a common North Indian method. Families adapt it to their own tradition.
What should you offer Maa Skandamata during puja?
- The kalash and barley tray from Ghatasthapana
- An image or murti of Maa Skandamata with infant Skanda
- White flowers, lotus if you have it, roli, and akshat
- A ghee diya, incense, and camphor
- Bananas, kheer, and white sweets for bhog
What flowers should you offer Maa Skandamata?
White flowers such as jasmine suit her white complexion. Lotus flowers suit her lotus seat. Yellow marigold matches the colour of the day. No primary text cited here fixes the flower.
Step-by-step Maa Skandamata puja vidhi
- Bathe before sunrise and wear clean yellow or white clothes.
- Water the barley, refill the diya, and clear the puja space.
- Place an image or murti of Maa Skandamata beside the kalash.
- Invoke Shri Ganesh first. Then take a sankalp, a spoken resolve to complete the puja.
- Offer white flowers, lotus if you have it, roli, and akshat.
- Light a ghee diya and show incense.
- Recite the dhyan mantra, then chant the mantra 108 times.
- Offer bananas and a sweet as bhog.
- Perform aarti, then share the prasad with the family.
Can you worship Maa Skandamata without fasting?
Yes. Puja does not require a fast. Fasting is a personal vow that families choose. Bhagavad Gita 6.16 warns against both over-eating and over-fasting. People with health conditions should ask a doctor before fasting.
Can children participate in Maa Skandamata Puja?
Yes. Day 5 honours a mother and her child, so children fit naturally. They can offer flowers, ring the bell, and say Maa’s name. Children should not fast. Ask a paediatrician if you have any doubt.
Can you worship Maa Skandamata at night?
Yes. Navratri means nine nights, and many families hold evening aarti and night-time jagrans. Morning puja is the common practice. No primary text cited here forbids an evening puja.
What should I do if I miss the morning Skandamata puja?
Offer the Navratri Day 5 puja vidhi later the same day. Keep it short: light a diya, offer a flower or banana, and chant her mantra. In Bhagavad Gita 9.26, Bhagwan Shri Krishna accepts a leaf, flower, fruit, or water from a devotee. Sincerity matters more than the hour.
What should you do on the fifth day of Navratri?
- Wear yellow and begin the day with Maa’s puja.
- Offer bananas and share them as prasad.
- Spend time with your mother or the elders of the family.
- Follow the Navratri Day 5 puja vidhi above, in your own way.
- Read or listen to the Maa Skandamata katha with the children.
What Should Devotees Pray for on Skandamata Day?
Devotees pray to Maa Skandamata for their children’s wellbeing, family harmony, and a calm mind. These are devotional beliefs. Prayer for children is not a medical treatment, and it does not replace medical care. The Taittiriya Upanishad gives this day a simple teaching. It tells the student to honour the mother:
Matri devo bhava.
Treat your mother as a god.
Adi Shankaracharya’s Devyaparadha Kshamapana Stotra says the same about the Divine Mother. A son may fail his mother, but a mother never fails her son.
Maa Skandamata Mantra: Dhyan Mantra, Beej Mantra and Prarthana
The Maa Skandamata mantra comes in five forms. Choose the one that fits your practice.
ॐ देवी स्कन्दमातायै नमः॥
Om Devi Skandamatayai Namah.
Repeat it 108 times with a mala, or as often as you can. This chant needs no guru’s initiation, so every devotee can use it.
Maa Skandamata dhyan mantra
वन्दे वाञ्छित कामार्थे चन्द्रार्धकृतशेखराम्।
सिंहारूढा चतुर्भुजा स्कन्दमाता यशस्विनीम्॥
धवलवर्णा विशुद्धचक्रस्थितां पञ्चमदुर्गां त्रिनेत्राम्।
अभयपद्मयुग्मकरां दक्षिणोरुपुत्रधरां स्तिमताम्॥
Vande vanchhita kamarthe chandrardha-krita-shekharam.
Simharudha chaturbhuja Skandamata yashasvinim.
Dhavala-varna vishuddha-chakra-sthitam panchama-durgam trinetram.
Abhaya-padma-yugma-karam dakshina-uru-putra-dharam stimitam.
The dhyan mantra means this. I bow to Maa Skandamata, who grants desired aims and wears a half-moon as her crest. She rides a lion, has four arms, and shines with glory. She is white in complexion and dwells at the Vishuddha chakra. And, she has three eyes. Her hands show fearlessness and hold two lotuses. On her right lap sits her son, and she smiles calmly.
Navadurga prarthana
सिंहासनगता नित्यं पद्माश्रितकरद्वया।
शुभदास्तु सदा देवी स्कन्दमाता यशस्विनी॥
Simhasanagata nityam padmashrita-kara-dvaya.
Shubhadastu sada devi Skandamata yashasvini.
It means this. May the glorious Maa Skandamata always bring us good fortune. She sits on a lion throne, with both hands on lotuses.
Maa Skandamata beej mantra
ॐ ह्रीं क्लीं स्वमिन्यै नमः॥
Om Hreem Kleem Swaminyai Namah.
Beej mantra for Maa Skandamata
Many traditions advise taking beej mantras from a guru. If you have no guru, use the simple chant above.
The Devi Mahatmya refrain for the mother
You can also chant a Devi Mahatmya refrain to the Devi as mother:
Ya devi sarvabhuteshu matri-rupena samsthita.
Namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah.
Devi Mahatmya 5.71 to 5.73 (numbering may vary by edition)
Its meaning: I bow again and again to the Devi who dwells in every being as mother. Chanting her name with devotion brings a calm heart.
Maa Skandamata Bhog: What to Offer on Day 5
Offer bananas to Maa Skandamata. Tradition names the banana as her favourite bhog. No primary text cited here prescribes the Maa Skandamata bhog, so it rests on devotional tradition.
Skandamata ko kya bhog lagate hain?
- Bananas, the signature offering
- Kheer and other white sweets
- Seasonal fruit
- Panchamrit
Why are bananas offered to Maa Skandamata?
Devotees offer bananas because tradition names them as her bhog. No primary text gives a reason. Many families see the banana as a simple, wholesome fruit that a mother easily gives her child. That is an interpretation. Devotees also believe the offering brings good health. That is a devotional belief, not medical advice.
Bhog for fasting households
Bananas suit a fast, so the Maa Skandamata bhog stays easy for fasting families. Add makhana kheer or sabudana kheer if you wish. Use rock salt, never table salt, in any savoury offering. People with diabetes should take only a small taste of sweet prasad.
मां स्कंदमाता की आरती: Maa Skandamata ki Aarti
Devotees sing Maa Skandamata ki Aarti after the bhog, with a lit ghee diya. The aarti praises her lotus seat, her lion, and her tender love for Skanda. Many families sing मां स्कंदमाता की आरती together.
मां स्कंदमाता की आरती
जय तेरी हो स्कंदमाता।
पांचवां नाम तुम्हारा आता॥
सबके मन की जानन हारी।
जग जननी सबकी महतारी॥
तेरी ज्योत जलाता रहूं मैं।
हरदम तुम्हें ध्याता रहूं मैं॥
कई नामों से तुझे पुकारा।
मुझे एक है तेरा सहारा॥
कहीं पहाड़ों पर हैं डेरा।
कई शहरों में तेरा बसेरा॥
हर मंदिर में तेरे नजारे।
गुण गाएं तेरे भगत प्यारे॥
भक्ति अपनी मुझे दिला दो।
शक्ति मेरी बिगड़ी बना दो॥
इंद्र आदि देवता मिल सारे।
करे पुकार तुम्हारे द्वारे॥
दुष्ट दैत्य जब चढ़ कर आएं।
तुम ही खंडा हाथ उठाएं॥
दासों को सदा बचाने आई।
‘चमन’ की आस पुजाने आई॥
How to sing Maa Skandamata ki Aarti?
Ring a small bell and fold your hands. Move the lit diya in a clockwise circle before the image of Maa. Keep singing until the circle ends. Then bow, take the prasad, and share it with everyone present.
Navratri Day 5 Colour 2026: Yellow
The Navratri Day 5 colour 2026 is yellow. The colour follows the weekday, and 15 October is a Thursday.
| Year | Day 5 date | Weekday | Colour |
| 2025 | 26 September | Friday | Green |
| 2026 | 15 October | Thursday | Yellow |
Again, remember that no scripture prescribes this colour, so the custom is modern and optional. Last year’s Day 5 fell on a Friday, so green was the weekday colour. Her dhyan mantra describes a white complexion, and many regions pair this day with white. Green, white, and yellow all suit the day.
Four Myths and Facts About Skandmata Mata
- Myth: Maa Parvati gave birth to Skanda in the usual way. Fact: In the Valmiki telling, Agni and Maa Ganga carried the child before the Krittikas nursed him.
- Myth: Murugan and Skanda are always separate gods. Fact: Tradition merges them, though Murugan has distinct Tamil roots.
- Myth: Green is her fixed colour every year. Fact: The Day 5 colour follows the weekday.
- Myth: Maa Skandamata holds a conch, a discus, and a mace. Fact: Her dhyan mantra shows two lotuses, the abhaya mudra, and her son.
Conclusion: A Mother’s Love Is Never Weak
On the morning of 15 October, Maa Skandamata asks you to surrender to a mother’s love. She also asks you to see the strength hidden inside it. Compassion is not a weakness. It is the greatest power.
Tomorrow, on 16 October, we meet Maa Katyayani, the warrior goddess of fierce energy. Why do devotees count her among the most powerful forms of Durga? Which story connects her with Mahishasura? How does worship of her bring courage? Read the Day 6 blog to find out.
FAQs About Devi Skandamata and Day 5 of Navratri
Maa Skandamata Puja is commonly performed in the morning after bathing and completing the usual daily rituals. However, the exact puja muhurat can vary by location and the Panchami tithi, so devotees who want to follow a specific muhurat should check their local Panchang. The blog follows the common morning-puja practice.
Yes. A Maa Skandamata Puja does not have to become an elaborate ritual with a dozen items on the floor. You can keep the worship simple with a clean space, diya, flowers, fruit or another suitable offering, and Maa Skandamata Mantra. A murti or image can be used when available, but the devotional focus is more important than having an elaborate setup.
Yes. Unmarried girls can worship Maa Skandamata and take part in Navratri prayers, mantra chanting and offerings. Her worship is not limited to married women or mothers. The form of Skandamata represents divine motherhood, compassion, protection and strength, making her worship relevant to devotees of all ages and family backgrounds.
There is no menstruation-related restriction stated in the scriptural sources cited in this blog. Hindu practices around worship during menstruation differ between families, communities and temples, so devotees may follow their own household or temple tradition. In other words, this is a matter of custom and tradition, not something this blog’s cited sources establish as a universal prohibition.
Traditions differ on Maa Skandamata beej mantra practice. Some traditions recommend learning beej mantras from a guru or receiving initiation before regular practice. The simpler Om Devi Skandamatayai Namah mantra is a more straightforward option for general devotional practice. The blog itself recommends the simple mantra for devotees who do not have a guru.
Some Navadurga traditions associate Maa Skandamata with Budh, or Mercury. This association appears in devotional and astrological traditions, rather than in the primary scriptural passage cited in the blog for her position among the Navadurga. The blog therefore treats the Budh connection as a traditional association, not as a direct scriptural command.
Some modern Navadurga traditions associate Maa Skandamata with the Vishuddha Chakra, the throat chakra. Her dhyan mantra describes her as being situated at Vishuddha, but the meaning and spiritual interpretation of this association can vary between traditions. It is best presented as a devotional tradition rather than as a universally established scriptural doctrine.
The Maa Skandamata dhyan mantra describes her as dhavala-varna, meaning white or radiant in complexion. Devotional interpretations commonly connect this whiteness with qualities such as peace, purity and clarity. These symbolic meanings are interpretations of her iconography, while the white complexion itself is directly described in the dhyan mantra.
No. The basic elements of Maa Skandamata Puja Vidhi can be similar, but household and regional practices may differ in offerings, flowers, colours, mantras and the order of rituals. The puja method given in this blog is described as a common North Indian method, and families may adapt it according to their own tradition.
No. A full ritual is not the only way to worship Maa Skandamata. A devotee can keep the practice simple by cleaning the puja space, lighting a diya, offering a flower or fruit, chanting the Maa Skandamata Mantra, and praying with sincerity. The blog itself notes that families can adapt the puja according to their tradition rather than treating one household method as mandatory.
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