Having awakened boundless divine energy and unconditional love within the heart through Sri Kushmanda, our spiritual journey now ascends to the throat center. On the fifth day of Navaratri, we worship the compassionate and supremely pure form of the Divine Mother: Sri Devi Skandamata.
She is revered as the mother of Lord Skanda (also known as Kartikeya or Murugan), the valiant commander-in-chief of the celestial army who was born to destroy the demon Tarakasura.
The Divine Form and Sacred Puranic History
When Mother Parvati performed severe penance to marry Lord Shiva, their union ultimately led to the birth of Lord Skanda. Because she is the mother of this glorious deity, she is known as Skandamata.
Her depiction is unique and profoundly maternal. She has four arms and rides a fierce lion. In her upper two hands, she holds sacred lotus flowers. With her lower left hand, she lovingly holds the infant Lord Skanda on her lap. Her lower right hand is raised in the Abhaya Mudra, granting fearlessness and immense blessings to her devotees. Because she is often seated on a lotus flower, she is also known as Padmasani.
Worshipping Skandamata holds a beautiful dual blessing: because she holds Lord Skanda in her lap, worshipping the Mother automatically includes the worship of her divine son. She is the ultimate symbol of the mother-child relationship, embodying nurturing grace, protection, and the supreme power of divine knowledge.
Esoteric and Spiritual Significance
In the subtle anatomy of the yogic system, Sri Skandamata governs the Vishuddha Chakra (the Throat Chakra), located at the base of the throat.
Ascending to the Vishuddha Chakra represents the purification of consciousness and the mastery of divine expression. The throat is the center of sound (Nada), speech, and truth. When the sadhaka enters this state, their mind becomes completely calm, and their thoughts are entirely directed toward the Divine.
Esoterically, Skandamata represents the pure, untainted wisdom that flows from the divine realms. By meditating upon her at the Vishuddha Chakra, all inner impurities, worldly anxieties, and negative vibrations are dissolved. The sadhaka is blessed with magnetic eloquence, profound peace, and the ability to speak absolute truths. Her grace transforms ordinary speech into divine wisdom.
Today’s Sadhana and Meditation
For your Day 5 practice, bring your complete awareness to the center of your throat, feeling a cooling, purifying light radiating as you follow these steps:
- Seat: Sit on a woollen mat in a quiet place. If sitting on a chair, ensure a woollen mat is placed beneath your feet.
- Direction and Posture: Face East or North. Maintain a perfectly straight spine, keeping your head, neck, and back in alignment.
- Centering: Chant OM nine times, focusing the vibration specifically at the base of your throat. Follow this with 3 to 5 minutes of steady, rhythmic breathing, allowing all mental chatter to subside.
- Visualization: Close your eyes and visualize the four-armed Divine Mother Skandamata radiating a brilliant, pure white light. See her seated on her lion or a massive lotus, tenderly holding the infant Skanda. Mentally place this radiant form within your Vishuddha Chakra, feeling a profound sense of maternal protection and inner purification.
- Mantra Japa: Chant the following complete mantra either 108 times (one full mala) or continuously for 15 to 30 minutes:
Oṃ Aiṃ Hrīṃ Klīṃ Śrīṃ Skandamātā Durgāyai Namaḥ Oṃ Hrīṃ Duṃ Durgāyai Namaḥ
ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं श्रीं स्कंदमाता दुर्गायै नमः ॐ ह्रीं दुं दुर्गायै नमः
May the compassionate Mother Skandamata purify your speech, bless you with profound wisdom, and envelop you in her infinite maternal grace.