॥ Om Devi Skandamatayai Namah ॥
॥ Simhasanagata Nityam Padmanchita Karadvaya।
Shubhadastu Sada Devi Skandamata Yashasvini ॥
The fifth day of Shardiya Navratri is dedicated to the worship of the fifth form of Goddess Durga, that is, Goddess Skandamata. This form of Goddess Durga is known as Skandamata as she is represented along with her child Skanda (Kartikeya) seated on her lap. It is believed that by worshipping her, all the desires of the devotees are fulfilled, they get peace and happiness, and easily attain salvation. Skandamata is considered to be a powerful Goddess who blesses her devotees.
Lord Kartikeya was chosen by the gods as their chief in the war against the demons. So, being the mother of Skanda, Goddess Durga is called Skanda Mata.
Goddess Skandamata rides on a lion, accompanied by her son Lord Skanda, seated in her lap, having four arms and three eyes. She holds a lotus in her two upper hands, the lower left arm is in a mudra symbolizing benediction, while raised fingers hold a lotus, and the lower right arm holds Skanda.
According to pandits, this deity is known as Goddess Vageshwari (Ashwarooda), who is allowed to be worshipped only on 2 days annually, and on all other days, the doors remain closed, and devotees worship the closed doors only.
There is some confusion here. Some locals term Skanda Mata as Vageshwari, but according to learned pandits, Vageshwari is Ashwarooda, located inside the closed doors on the ground level, while Goddess Skanda Mata is located on the upper storey of the same temple at Jaitpura, Varanasi.
“Ashwa + Arooda” means “Horse + Mount,” i.e., Goddess Vageshwari mounted on horseback, who is the captain of the Cavalry of Horses in the army of Supreme Goddess Sri Raja Rajeshwari. The horse which carries Goddess Vageshwari is called APARAJITA, which means insurmountable and unconquerable.
The idol of Goddess Durga appears with four hands. She holds a lotus flower in each of her upper hands. Her left hand is in a posture of giving blessings. Her form is auspicious, and she sits on a lotus flower. So, she is named Goddess Padmasana Devi. She uses a lion as her vehicle. The devotees of hers have all their wishes fulfilled; they lead lives with more peace and happiness, and their way to salvation becomes easy. Since she guards the Sun’s orbit, her devotees receive a radiating light that surrounds them as an aura.
Kathasara
According to the legend, demon Tarakasura once pleased Lord Brahma with his extremely tough penance. When Lord Brahma asked him to make a wish, Tarakasura asked Lord Brahma to make him immortal. Lord Brahma denied him this blessing, saying none can escape death. Tarakasura acted smart and asked for death only at the hands of the son of Lord Shiva, since he thought Lord Shiva would never get married. Tarakasura started torturing the people on the earth. Fearing his strength would cause destruction, the devatas requested Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati to send their son Kartikeya to fight with Tarakasura. Lord Kartikeya (Skanda Kumara) demolished Tarakasura. Since then, Devi Skandamata is considered a symbol of the mother-son relationship.
Navratri is a time to offer reverence to the Goddess of Shakti, Maa Durga.
