Goddess Mahagauri (???????)

Origin – According to Hindu mythologies, Devi Mahagauri is 16 years old unmarried Goddess Parvati.When Goddess Parvati was a sixteen year girl, she was extremely beautiful and blessed with fair complexion. Thus she was known as Goddess Mahagauri which means extremely white.

Navratri Day of Worship – Goddess Mahagauri is worshipped on the eighth day of Navratri.

Ruling Planet – The planet Rahu is governed by Goddess Mahagauri.

Idol – The mount of Goddess Mahagauri is Nandi- the white Bull and because of that she is also known as Vrisharudha (?????????). Goddess Mahagauri is depicted with four hands and in the right hand she carries a Trishul (trident) while keeps the second right hand in Abhaya Mudra (the pose of allaying fear) and in the left hand she adorns Damaru (a small rattle drum) while keeps the second left hand in Varada Mudra (pose of granting boons to her devotees).

Details – Goddess Mahagauri is extremely fair and white like the conch (sankha), the moon and the white flower of Kunda (Star Jasmine). She wears white clothes only and hence she is also known as Shwetambardhara (?????????????).

Once Goddess Parvati performed an intense penance in the deep forests of the Himalayas for several years to get Lord Shiva as her husband. During this period her body got covered with soil and she developed a dark complexion.

Lord Shiva got pleased with her devotions and accepted her prayers. He gave her a boon that, he will marry her and become her husband soon. Then he cleaned Goddess Parvati with Gangajal (Ganga’s water). This sacred water brought her beauty back and her skin was shining like gold. Due to her fair and pure complexion, Lord Shiva named her “Maha Gauri”.

There is one more story related to occurrence of Goddess Mahagauri.  When Maa Durga killed all the demons in battle she turned into MahaKali as death incarnate due to extreme anger. She was in her ferocious form which leads to massive destruction everywhere and got uncontrollable. She developed a dark complexion due to this. So after the battle Lord Shiva sprinkled Gangajal on Mahakali and she became Shubhravarna (fair) again and hence was called Mahagauri.

Maha Gauri is intelligent, peaceful and calm and her fairest complexion radiates peace and compassion.

Maha Gouri is a household goddess and those who worshipped her get purified in all aspects of life as all sins of past, present and future get washed away. She blesses her devotees with peace, food and prosperity.

Stuti –

?? ???? ??????????? ??? ??????? ????? ????????? ????????? ????????? ????????? ??? ??: ??