Navaratri Fall 2026 - Day 5: Skandamata-Directing the Senses Towards Devotion

Mother is remembered with the name of Skanda Mata today.

Skanda was the son of Lord Shiva, chieftain, chief officer of God's army.

When the battle of Devas and Asuras was raging, it was Skanda who went out and defeated.

What does it really tell us? On Panchami, the five, the fifth day, Mother gives birth to the chieftain of the army of gods.

The symbology, I was thinking about it today.

Five senses.

When our five senses are disciplined, united, focused, they give birth to the chief of army of gods.

That gives birth to defeat any wickedness coming towards us.

We lose so much energy through our senses, always.

Running towards nice thing to see, nice things to taste, nice things to touch, nice thing to smell.

So much energy is wasted on that, on self-gratification.

If we become modest, pull that energy back, and direct that energy towards creating something beautiful, meaningful for the world, towards helping someone.

That's also worship of Mahalakshmi.

If we are not mindful, we are totally driven by satisfying our cravings, gratification of our ego.

On Panchami, the message is, may we be able to contain our five, the hunger of our five senses.

I'm not saying kill it.

Just be a little modest with it and find a place and time to say, "I have enough." And then direct that energy towards doing something good.

Sometimes we don't catch ourself and we are just running with the thought.

We are very fortunate if we are able to just stop, pull the energy back to the Nabhi, to the navel, and let it rise towards the heart.

All that energy that was flowing out, going to get wasted, turns into A beautiful energy in the heart.