Navratri: Worship Skandmata to Fulfill Your Wishes for Children – Times of India

On the fifth day of Navratri, devotees honor Goddess Skandmata, the mother of Kartikeya, with special prayers and offerings for fertility. Wearing white and using specific offerings, such as rice, roli, and banana halwa, enhance the puja. Reciting Durga Saptashati and Durga Chalisa invites blessings for fertility and other wishes.

On the fifth day of Navratri, devotees honor Goddess Skandmata, the mother of Kartikeya (Skanda), with prayers and offerings. According to celebrity astrologer Parduman Suri, this day holds special significance for couples seeking to have children, as Goddess Durga, in the form of Skandmata, is believed to bless sincere prayers with the gift of fertility.
Skandmata, one of the nine forms of Goddess Durga, is said to be especially pleased during Navratri, making it an auspicious time for devotees to express their desires for a child.Wearing white while performing the puja is recommended, as it is the goddess’s favored color. The puja should be accompanied by offerings such as rice, roli, kumkum, red flowers, betel leaves, cloves, and a special banana-based sweet, like banana halwa, as prasad.
Suri also advises that devotees decorate their temple with yellow flowers and light incense and lamps during the ritual. Reciting the Durga Saptashati and Durga Chalisa after the prayers enhances the spiritual energy of the occasion, inviting divine blessings not only for fertility but also for the fulfillment of all other wishes.

Maa Parvati Trains Kartikeya to Defeat Tarakasur

In mythology, Goddess Skandmata, or Maa Parvati, also plays a pivotal role in preparing her son, Kartikeya, to defeat the demon Tarakasur. According to legend, Tarakasur, after performing severe penance, was granted a boon by Lord Brahma that he could only be killed by Lord Shiva’s son. Assuming that Lord Shiva, mourning the death of Sati, would never remarry and have a son, Tarakasur believed he was invincible.
However, at the request of the gods, Lord Shiva married Parvati, and Kartikeya was born. Trained by his mother, Kartikeya grew into a warrior and ultimately fulfilled the prophecy, defeating the powerful demon Tarakasur, restoring peace to the heavens and the Earth.
By worshiping Skandmata, devotees not only receive her maternal blessings but also invoke the protective and victorious power of Kartikeya, the god of war.
This article is written by Celebrity Astrologer Parduman Suri.