- Navratri day
- Day 5
- Date in 2026
- Thursday, 15 Oct 2026
- Colour
- Yellow
- Vahan
- Lion
- Prasad / bhog
- Bananas
- Tithi at sunrise
- Panchami
About Maa Skandamata
Skandamata is the mother of Skanda, also known as Kartikeya or Murugan, the commander of the gods who defeated the demon Tarakasura. She is shown holding the infant Skanda in her lap.
She has four arms. Two hold lotuses, one holds Skanda and one is raised in blessing. She rides a lion and is often seated on a lotus, so she is also called Padmasana.
Puja vidhi
- Offer yellow flowers, haldi-kumkum and akshat after the morning prayer.
- Offer bananas as bhog. Some families give them to Brahmins or to the needy.
- Chant her mantra and pray for the family, especially the children.
- Finish with the aarti.
Mantra
Mantra
ॐ देवी स्कन्दमातायै नमः॥
Om Devi Skandamatayai Namah
Dhyana mantra
सिंहासनगता नित्यं पद्माश्रितकरद्वया। शुभदास्तु सदा देवी स्कन्दमाता यशस्विनी॥
Simhasanagata nityam padmashrita-karadvaya, shubhadastu sada Devi Skandamata yashasvini.
Recite this while picturing the Devi before you begin the puja.
Stuti
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु माँ स्कन्दमाता रूपेण संस्थिता। नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥
Ya Devi sarvabhuteshu Maa Skandamata rupena samsthita, namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah.
Aarti
Aarti: Om Jai Ambe Gauri
This is the aarti of Maa Durga (Ambe Maa) sung every evening of Navratri, whichever form is worshipped that day. It is traditionally credited to Shivanand Swami, as its last verse says.
जय अम्बे गौरी, मैया जय श्यामा गौरी। तुमको निशदिन ध्यावत, हरि ब्रह्मा शिवरी॥ ॐ जय अम्बे गौरी॥
Jai Ambe Gauri, Maiya Jai Shyama Gauri, Tumko nishdin dhyavat, Hari Brahma Shivri. Om Jai Ambe Gauri.
माँग सिंदूर विराजत, टीको मृगमद को। उज्ज्वल से दोउ नैना, चंद्रवदन नीको॥
Maang sindoor virajat, tiko mrigmad ko, Ujjval se dou naina, chandravadan neeko.
कनक समान कलेवर, रक्ताम्बर राजै। रक्तपुष्प गल माला, कंठन पर साजै॥
Kanak saman kalevar, raktambar raajai, Raktapushp gal mala, kanthan par saajai.
केहरि वाहन राजत, खड्ग खप्पर धारी। सुर-नर-मुनिजन सेवत, तिनके दुखहारी॥
Kehari vahan raajat, khadag khappar dhaari, Sur-nar-munijan sevat, tinke dukhhaari.
कानन कुण्डल शोभित, नासाग्रे मोती। कोटिक चंद्र दिवाकर, सम राजत ज्योती॥
Kaanan kundal shobhit, nasagre moti, Kotik chandra divakar, sam raajat jyoti.
शुंभ-निशुंभ बिदारे, महिषासुर घाती। धूम्र विलोचन नैना, निशदिन मदमाती॥
Shumbh-Nishumbh bidaare, Mahishasur ghaati, Dhumra vilochan naina, nishdin madmaati.
चण्ड-मुण्ड संहारे, शोणित बीज हरे। मधु-कैटभ दोउ मारे, सुर भयहीन करे॥
Chand-Mund sanhaare, Shonit Beej hare, Madhu-Kaitabh dou maare, sur bhayheen kare.
ब्रह्माणी, रुद्राणी, तुम कमला रानी। आगम निगम बखानी, तुम शिव पटरानी॥
Brahmani, Rudrani, tum Kamala Rani, Agam Nigam bakhaani, tum Shiv patrani.
चौंसठ योगिनी मंगल गावत, नृत्य करत भैरों। बाजत ताल मृदंगा, अरु बाजत डमरू॥
Chausath yogini mangal gaavat, nritya karat Bhairon, Baajat taal mridanga, aru baajat damru.
तुम ही जग की माता, तुम ही हो भरता। भक्तन की दुख हरता, सुख संपति करता॥
Tum hi jag ki mata, tum hi ho bharta, Bhaktan ki dukh harta, sukh sampati karta.
भुजा चार अति शोभित, वर मुद्रा धारी। मनवांछित फल पावत, सेवत नर नारी॥
Bhuja chaar ati shobhit, var mudra dhaari, Manvanchhit phal paavat, sevat nar naari.
कंचन थाल विराजत, अगर कपूर बाती। श्रीमालकेतु में राजत, कोटि रतन ज्योती॥
Kanchan thaal virajat, agar kapur baati, Shrimalketu mein raajat, koti ratan jyoti.
श्री अम्बेजी की आरती, जो कोई नर गावै। कहत शिवानंद स्वामी, सुख-सम्पत्ति पावै॥
Shri Ambeji ki aarti, jo koi nar gaave, Kahat Shivanand Swami, sukh-sampatti paave.
Significance
Skandamata shows the tender, protective side of the Goddess. Parents pray to her for the health and progress of their children. It is also believed that worshipping her brings the blessings of Kartikeya at the same time. Her worship is linked with the Vishuddha chakra.
Day 5 in 2026: tithi and timings
Day 5 falls on Panchami tithi, which begins just after midnight (1:13 AM) on 15 October.
| Date | Tithi at sunrise | Sunrise | Sunset | Moonrise | Rahu Kaal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed, 14 Oct | Chaturthi | 6:21 AM | 5:52 PM | 9:44 AM | 12:07 PM – 1:33 PM |
| Thu, 15 Oct | Panchami | 6:21 AM | 5:51 PM | 10:41 AM | 1:33 PM – 2:59 PM |
| Fri, 16 Oct | Shashthi | 6:22 AM | 5:50 PM | 11:34 AM | 10:40 AM – 12:06 PM |
On this day Rahu Kaal falls around midday, so an early morning puja is not affected. What sunrise, moonrise and Rahu Kaal mean
Timings are calculated for New Delhi in Indian Standard Time. Tithi start and end times are the same moment across India, but sunrise, sunset, moonrise, Rahu Kaal and muhurats change with your city. Other panchangs may differ by a minute or two.