A Festival Celebrating Goddess Skandamata

Navratri, is among the most important festivities of Hindu religion. People follow and expand the rituals they had been following from day one of the celebrations to the fifth day of the celebration, also known as Panchami. While the Northern half of India fasts, the Eastern section of India indulges in diverse delights.

Mata Skandamata with Lord Karthikeya; Image Source: Pinterest

“Throughout the year, in all religions, in all seasons; we Indians find reasons, to worship almost everything and everyone; from people to Gods; from animals to plants; from planets to stars. So our spirits are always high with small surprises of life, we cherish meeting and greeting people, for we celebrate every aspect of being human.”, wrote CA Vikram Varma in his book**,** You By You.

Navratri- a festival to celebrate the imperfect woman in you, a festival to celebrate the courage in you, a festival to celebrate the happiness in you, a festival to celebrate the freedom in you. Loving yourself is perhaps one of the most difficult tasks, giving time to yourself while making sure that you fulfill all the responsibilities might sound impossible. But what if you can celebrate a festival that lights the inner you, freeing you from all the chains that stop you to fly? Let’s find out.

Nothing can replace the peace and happiness that Maa Durga brings to our homes each year on the occasion of Navratri. Celebrating the victory of Maa Durga over Mahishasura, the demon who spread hatred, Navratri is an occasion to celebrate the victory of good over evil and an ode to every woman out there who is a part of Maa Durga. Let’s travel to the streets of India where huge pandals and vermillion are the main topics of discussion. Be it Eastern India, West Bengal, Nepal, North India, Bihar, Gujarat, Goa, or Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, India is a host to a variety of Navratri celebrations. Navratri is an auspicious Hindu festival observed for nine nights (literal translation of Navratri) and the fifth day of the festival is known as Panchami.

Skandamata, as one of the Navadurga, is worshipped on the fifth day of Navaratri. She is the fifth incarnation of the Hindu Goddess Durga. Skanda, an alternative name for the battle deity Kartikeya, and Mata, which means mother, are the origins of her name.

Skandamata has four arms and three eyes, and she mounts a lion. One of her arms is in the fear-relieving Abhayamudra pose, while another is holding her son Skanda in his newborn form on her lap. Her other two hands are usually pictured clutching lotus flowers. She has a fair complexion and is often known as Padamasani since she is frequently shown reclining on a lotus.

The reason behind Skandamata holding Lord Karthikeya aka Skanda in her arms is an intriguing story. Shiva got removed from earthly matters when Sati immolated herself and began practising ascetic austerity. At the same time, the gods (devas) were being attacked by demons (asuras) headed by Surapadman and Tarakasura. They were cursed with the ability to be killed only by Shiva or his children.

Fearing that Shiva would never have children, the gods rush to Lord Vishnu for assistance, but Vishnu informs them that the gods are to blame for the problem. Sati would not have immolated herself if they had not gone Daksha Prajapati's yagna. He then informs them about Parvati, an Adi Shakti avatar who is destined to be Shiva's spouse.

Rishi Narada visits Parvati on behalf of the gods and tells her that if she performs tremendous devotion, she will get Lord Shiva as her spouse, who also was her husband in the previous incarnation. Shiva reluctantly agrees and marries Parvati after hundreds of years of penance. The force of Shiva and Parvati merges to form a flaming seed. Lord Agni is tasked with carefully transporting the seed to Saravana Lake till the brightness from the seed becomes Shiva's descendants. The warmth from the seed gets difficult for Agni to endure, and he turns it over to Ganga, who safely transports it to the lake in the forest Saravana.

Goddess Parvati then assumed the form of a water body since she was the only one capable of bearing Shiva's seed. Later, six-faced Kartikeya is born and is cared for by six Krittikas (mothers). As a result, he is given the name Kartikeya. He grew up to be a gorgeous, clever, and strong young man, earning him the moniker Kumara (Youth in Sanskrit).

It is thought that she bestows salvation, power, wealth, and treasures to worshippers. If he happens to revere her, she may bestow oceans of wisdom on even the most ignorant individuals. Skandamata, who bears the splendour of the sun, fulfils all of her worshippers' aspirations. He who is completely committed to her achieves all of life's accomplishments and treasures. Skandamata worship cleanses the soul of a devotee. The devotee should have full control over his emotions and thoughts while worshipping her. He should liberate himself from worldly ties and devote himself entirely to her. Her worship is blessed twice. When a devotee idolises her, Lord Skanda, her son in her lap, gets worshipped naturally.

As a result, the devotee receives the favour of Skandmata as well as the grace of Lord Skanda. If a follower worships her without self-interest, the Mother bestows strength and riches on them. Skandamata worshippers are radiant with holy brightness. Her worship leads to salvation in the end. She is commonly referred to as "The Goddess of Fire.”

The veneration ceremony is done in a unique way. First, a Skandamata statue or portrait is placed in the home. Following that, it is cleansed with water from the Ganges or cow urine. A pot of metal, copper, or mud with a coconut on its top is placed near the statue. After that, statues of Sriganesh, Varuna, Navagraha, Shodash Matrika (16 Goddesses), and Sapta Ghrit Matrika (seven sindoor dots)are established in that position. All of the established deities, including Skandamata and Shodashopachara are worshipped using Vedic and Saptashati mantras. Prasad is distributed and finally the veneration ceremony comes to an end.

The first four days are taken to prepare. The city is decorated and from the fifth day, the pandals open up for the population. The pandals are decorated with various Durga idols and people hop from one pandal to another one. The fifth day, therefore technically marks the beginning of Durga Puja. People also observe sandhya aarti (evening worshipping of the idol), followed by bhog (the food offered to the goddess is distributed among the devotees). Lastly, by the night, different people get together, perform various cultural activities, and plan their next day’s visit.

An idol of Lord Skandamata; Image Source: Pinterest