आज मां दुर्गा के पांचवे स्वरूप स्कंदमाता (भगवान कार्तिकेय की माता) की पूजा आराधना की जाएगी, माँ दुर्गा का यह स्वरूप बहुत ही सौम्य और करुणा से भरा है, स्कंदमाता की गोद में कार्तिकेय विराजित है, माँ की सच्चे मन से आराधना करने वाले भक्तों के सभी कष्ट मिट जाते हैं।
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु मां स्कन्दमाता रूपेण संस्थिता। नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥
There was a demon named Tarakasur. Whose death was possible only from the son of Shiva. Then Mother Parvati took the form of Skanda Mata to train her son Lord Skanda (another name for Kartikeya) for war and she trained Lord Skanda for war. After taking war training from Skandamata, Lord Skanda killed Tarakasur.
Kartikeya is also called the Kumar commander of the gods. Kartikeya is also known in the Puranas by the names Sanat-Kumar, Skanda Kumar, etc. In this form, the mother rides on a lion and kills the tyrannical demons. Being the daughter of Parvatraj, she is also called Parvati, and being the wife of Lord Shiva, she is also named Maheshwari. She is also called Gauri because of her fair complexion. Mother has more love for her son, hence she is called Skandmata who loves her son very much. Mother is in abhaya posture, seated on a lotus flower, hence she is also called Padmasana Devi and Vidyavahini Durga.
