Maa Skandmata Vrat Katha
According to mythological beliefs, after Sati burnt herself in the yagya, Lord Shiva separated himself from the worldly world and got absorbed in rigorous penance. At the same time, the gods were suffering from the atrocities of a demon named Tarakasur, Tarakasur had a boon that he could be killed only by the son of Shiva. According to the story, Tarakasur once pleased Brahma with severe penance. He asked Brahma ji for the boon of immortality. But Brahma ji said that whoever is born on this earth is sure to die. No creature on this earth is immortal. Then he asked Brahma ji for a boon that no one on this earth can kill him, only Shiva's child will kill him. Tarakasur believed that after Sati was burnt to ashes, Bholenath will never marry and he will not have any son.
On behalf of all the gods, Maharishi Narada goes to Parvati and urges her to perform penance and get Lord Shiva as her husband. After thousands of years of penance, Lord Shiva marries Goddess Parvati. The energy of Lord Shiva and Parvati combines to produce a highly flammable seed and Lord Kartikeya is born. He grows up to be a handsome, intelligent and powerful boy.
After receiving education from Brahma Ji, as the commander of the gods, all the gods blessed him and gave him special weapons for the war against Tadkasur, it was Goddess Skandamata who trained Kartikeya for the war. Lord Kartikeya killed Tadkasur in a fierce battle. Thus Mother Skandamata is worshipped as the mother of Skanda Kumar i.e. Kartikeya. By worshipping Skandamata, Lord Kartikeya is automatically worshipped because he is seated in his mother's lap.