Overview
Skandamata (Sanskrit: स्कन्दमाता, Skandamātā, meaning "mother of Skanda") is a form of the Hindu goddess Mahadevi. She is venerated within the Shakta tradition as the mother of the war god Kartikeya, who is also known as Skanda. The name itself reflects this maternal aspect, situating her as the nurturing form of the Devi who gives rise to the divine commander of the gods.
Skandamata is counted as the fifth of the Navadurga, the nine principal forms of Durga venerated across Hindu traditions. Each of these forms is associated with a particular day of the festival of Navaratri, during which the goddess is worshipped in her successive aspects.
In keeping with this sequence, Skandamata is worshipped on the fifth day of Navaratri. Devotees observe rituals dedicated to her on this day as part of the wider nine-night observance honouring the goddess in her varied forms.
References
Adapted from the English Wikipedia article on Skandamata.