Form 8 of 9 · Night 8 of Navratri
Mahagauri
The eighth form of Durga, worshipped on the eighth night, Durga Ashtami: Mahagauri, shining white as the moon and jasmine, the giver of peace and purity.
- Her name means
- The very fair one
- Rides a white bull
- Her night
- Night 8
- of Navratri
The story
After her long penance in the forest, Parvati’s body was dark with dust, sun and wind.
Pleased with her devotion, Shiva washed her in the waters of the Ganga, and she shone a brilliant white: Mahagauri, the very fair one.
On Durga Ashtami, her day, many homes honour young girls as the Goddess in kanya puja, and in Bengal it is the day of Sandhi Puja.
What she gives
Peace, purity and the washing away of past wrongs.
How she is shown
Dressed in white and white as a conch, riding a white bull, four-armed with a trident and a damaru, her other hands in blessing and in protection.
Her verse
श्वेते वृषे समारूढा श्वेताम्बरधरा शुचिः।
महागौरी शुभं दद्यान्महादेवप्रमोददा॥
Shvete vrishe samarudha shvetambaradhara shuchih,
Mahagauri shubham dadyan Mahadeva pramodada.
Riding a white bull, dressed in white and pure, may Mahagauri, who delights Mahadeva, give me good.
सफ़ेद बैल पर सवार, सफ़ेद वस्त्र पहने, पवित्र, महादेव को आनंद देने वाली महागौरी मेरा कल्याण करें।
Her mantra ॐ देवी महागौर्यै नमःOm Devi Mahagauryai Namah
Her night
The eighth night of Navratri
Mahagauri is worshipped on the eighth night of Navratri, the tithi of Ashtami, in spring (Chaitra) and in autumn (Sharad).
Find this year’s NavratriWhere she is worshipped
In every Durga temple and festival pandal on her night of Navratri. In Varanasi each of the nine forms has a temple of her own, and pilgrims visit one each night.
Questions
How did Mahagauri become white?
After her penance had darkened her body, Shiva washed her in the Ganga, and she shone white as the moon.
What is kanya puja?
On Ashtami or Navami, young girls are welcomed as forms of the Goddess, their feet washed, and given food and gifts.