On day 5, Devi Pārvati is worshipped in her motherhood stage as ‘Skandmāta’. Devi Pārvati is the mother of Kārtikeya (Bhagwān Skanda) and thus revered as Skanda Mātā.
When all Devtā (deities) and Riṣi muni and Manuṣya (mankind) were tired from the torment of Tārakāsur, Kumar Kārtikeya is the only almighty who demolished the tyranny of Tārakāsur. Being the mother of the powerful deity Kārtikeya, the mother Pārvati is glorified with the name ‘Skanda Mātā.’ She truly represents endurance.
Pārvati ji got married to Bhagwān Śiva (Chandraghantā). When their union happened, a blinding seed – a powerful seed – took birth. This seed was so radiant that Bhagwān Agni himself was given the job of taking care of the seed because from its radiance the child of Śiva and Parvati would be born. However, Agni could not bear the radiance of the seed and he took help from Gangā. Gangā looked after the seed and then Pārvati herself took the form of water because she knew that only she could carry the seed that was born of her union with Śiva. And then Kārtikeya was born. He had six faces and he was looked after by six mothers also called ‘Krittikas’ which is how he got the name of Kārtikeya.
In south India, Kārtikeya is also known as Murugan. He’s the commander-in-chief of the Army of Gods. He is ever so powerful and he’s blessed by all gods and goddesses with powerful weapons and immense knowledge.
When he was a toddler, he went to Brahmā himself to gain knowledge. On the first day, he asked Brahmā ji the meaning of ‘Om’ and Brahmā took 12,000 verses to explain to him the meaning. But Kārtikeya was not satisfied so he went to his father Bhagwān Śiva and asked him. Bhagwān Śiva explained the meaning of ‘Om’ in 12 lakh verses but Kārtikeya was not satisfied. But by now he had figured out the meaning of ‘Om’ and explained it to everybody in 12 crore verses. That was Kārtikeya – ever so powerful – which is why it is believed that if you pray to Skandmāta you automatically end up praying to Kartikeya.
Skandmāta has four hands. In one hand she carries Kārtikeya as a baby, in her second and third hand she carries a lotus, and with her fourth hand, she blesses her devotees. She rides a lion and sits on a lotus.
