The Fifth Navadurga form of Mahadevi is Skandamata. Skanda, another name for the war god Kartikeya, and Mata, which means mother, are the roots of her name. On the fifth day of Navaratri, Skandamata—one of the Navadurga—is worshipped. She governs the Vishuddha chakra.

Skandamata has three eyes, and four arms, and rides a lion. She holds the infant form of her son Skanda in her lap with one hand in the fear-relieving Abhayamudra position. Usually, her other two hands are bearing lotus flowers. She has a fair complexion and is sometimes referred to as Padamasani because she is frequently shown sitting on a lotus.