Eighth Day of Navratri : Worshiped on Goddess Mahagauri

 

ॐ देवी महागौर्यै नमः॥
Om Devi Mahagauryai Namah॥
 
 
श्वेते वृषेसमारूढा श्वेताम्बरधरा शुचिः।
महागौरी शुभं दद्यान्महादेव प्रमोददा॥
Shwete Vrishesamarudha Shwetambaradhara Shuchih।
Mahagauri Shubham Dadyanmahadeva Pramodada॥

 

Mahagauri’ is the eighth appellation of Goddess Durga, worshipped on the eighth day of Navaratras. She is so fair that her complexion is oft-compared with colors of Jasmine, Moon and Conch. It is said that when Goddess Parvati subjected herself to arduous asceticism for a very long time to secure Lord Shiva for a spouse, her body lost all its glory and turned dark and wrinkled. Eventually, when Lord Shiva consented to be her husband, He gave her body a bath in the holy waters of celestial Ganga River.  As a result, her body not only regained vitality and health, but also achieved a complexion so dazzling White that She is eternally worshipped as an eight year old, invariably dressed in White embellished with White accessories from tip to toe.

 

Her iconography depicts her as an eight year old also because at this age Goddess Parvati got her first inspiration to want Lord Shiva for a spouse. Her visage radiates exemplary child-like innocence and tranquility in combination with dogged determination. Astride a bull, She holds items like a trident (Trishul) and a small drum-like rattle (Dumroo), establishing her close linkage with Lord Shiva. Her other two hands are ever composed in poses (mudra) of fearlessness (Abhay) and blessing (Ashirvaad), reinforcing her gentle disposition.

 

The powers of Mahagauri are unfailing and instantaneous at bearing fruits for any penances undergone by her devotees. Her worship purifies the worshipper from all of one’s sins from past, present and future.

 

 

Goddess bharmachariniGoddess chandra ghantaGoddess kaalratriGoddess katyayaniGoddess kushmandaGoddess mahagauriGoddess parvati sculpturesGoddess shailaputriGoddess siddhidatriGoddess skanda mataHindu goddess durga

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