Goddess Mahagauri – Navratri (Day 8) Know Rituals and Significance

Navratri Day 8 worshiped Goddess Mahagauri, also known as Maha Ashtami which is fall on Sunday 21 October this year. This day is most important day of Durga Puja (Navratri). Maa Mahagauri is worshiped on this day. They are dedicated to Maa Durga and her nine avatar. During Ashtami people worshiped Maa Mahagauri and performed various rituals including Kanjak, Sandhi Puja, Mahasnan.  

Mythology of Goddess Mahagauri

According to the Mythology says that Goddess Shailputri at the age of sixteen was extremely beautiful and blessed with a fair complexion. That’s why she is also known as Goddess Mahagauri. Like a Shailputri she mounts a bull, and due to this she called as Vrisharudha. She has four hands while one hand on the right side carried Trishul and the other stays in Abhaya Mudra. She holds a Damaru on the left-hand side and the other in Varada Mudra. The Goddess is often compared with the conch, the moon, and the white flower of Kunda because she has a fair complexion. She is also known as Shwetambardhara. She always wears a white saree. She symbolized purity, serenity, and tranquility.  

Significance of Goddess Mahagauri

The eighth day of Navratri or Maha Ashtami celebrate Maa Durga Victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasur. People worshiped Maa Mahagauri on this day, who is known for bestowing her devotees with wealth and an opulent lifestyle and removing all their suffering. The Praying Maa Durga during Ashtami can help rid one of all their problem and sins. Ashtami fast also hold the significance as it brings prosperty and luck.  

Story of Goddess Mahagauri

On the eighth day of Navratri worshiped Goddess Mahagauri. Maha means extremely and Gauri means white. She is worshiped by devotees to attain loyality in relationship and created life long bonds. The story of Mahagauri has many version. The most popular one is when after killing all demons in form of Kaalratri, Parvati was left with  skin as dark as night. This made his husband Mahadev tease her with her nickname ‘Kali’ (dark skin) Agigated, Parvati applied to Brahma by undergoing a severe penance lasting many days, to regain her fair skin. Then Brahma advice her to took bath in the Mansarovar river in Himalayas.  

Then after taking advice given by Brahma she took bath in river , when she take bath in river the dark skin seperated from her and take the form of a female. This female is kaushiki who goes on to the slay the demons Shumbha and Nishumbha. After that, she got a white complexion and beauty and come to known as Mahagauri.  

Navratri days 8 Puja Vidhi, Color & Date

Maa Maha Gauri Puja will take place on October 10, 2024. The designated Navratri color for this day is pink, symbolizing purity and compassion. Devotees pray to Goddess Maha Gauri to cleanse their sins and bestow blessings of peace, harmony, and prosperity.

Mahagauri Mantra 

ॐ देवी महागौर्यै नमः॥

Om Devi Mahagauryai Namah॥

Mahagauri Prarthana

श्वेते वृषेसमारूढा श्वेताम्बरधरा शुचिः।
महागौरी शुभं दद्यान्महादेव प्रमोददा॥

Shwete Vrishesamarudha Shwetambaradhara Shuchih।
Mahagauri Shubham Dadyanmahadeva Pramodada॥

Maa Mahagauri Stotra

सर्वसङ्कट हन्त्री त्वंहि धन ऐश्वर्य प्रदायनीम्।
ज्ञानदा चतुर्वेदमयी महागौरी प्रणमाम्यहम्॥
सुख शान्तिदात्री धन धान्य प्रदायनीम्।
डमरूवाद्य प्रिया अद्या महागौरी प्रणमाम्यहम्॥
त्रैलोक्यमङ्गल त्वंहि तापत्रय हारिणीम्।
वददम् चैतन्यमयी महागौरी प्रणमाम्यहम्॥

Sarvasankata Hantri Tvamhi Dhana Aishwarya Pradayanim।
Jnanada Chaturvedamayi Mahagauri Pranamamyaham॥
Sukha Shantidatri Dhana Dhanya Pradayanim।
Damaruvadya Priya Adya Mahagauri Pranamamyaham॥
Trailokyamangala Tvamhi Tapatraya Harinim।
Vadadam Chaitanyamayi Mahagauri Pranamamyaham॥

Conclusion. 

On this day worshiped Goddess Mahagauri., she symbolized purity, serenity, and tranquility. Her devotees were blessed with wealth and an opulent lifestyle and removed all their sufferings. Praying of Goddess Mahagauri can help rid one of all their problems and sins. Ashtami also holds significance as it brings prosperity and luck.