NAVRATRI SERIES: DAY 8-> MATA MAHAGAURI

Mata Mahagauri represents Mata Parvati in her phase of recovery. She is the Goddess of Beauty and women. She has the powers to fulfill all the desires of her devotees. Her devotees get relief from all their sufferings in life.

Mantra:-  श्वेते वृषे समारुढा श्वेताम्बरधरा शुचिः। महागौरी शुभं दघान्महादेवप्रमोददा॥

Her weapons are-Trident (Trishul), Tambourine (Damaru), Abhayamudra and Varada mudra.

Her name means exceptionally bright with a shine like the Moon. She is worshipped on the eighth day of Navratri. After she took the form of Mata Kali, she returned to her normal form but with her skin black. On Lord Brahma’s advice, she submerged herself in the Manasarovara River and came back with her skin shining like the Moon and her white clothes and ornaments. This form of Mata Parvati is known as Mata Mahagauri. She also represents a homemaker, devoted wife and a nurturing mother as she is the base of a family. She has three peaceful eyes and a calm expression. She has four hands from which three carry a Trident (Trishul), a mini-drum and a pink lotus while her fourth hand assured protection to her devotees. Her mount is a white bull. 

STORIES

The story of Mahagauri's origins is as follows: The demons Shumbha and Nishumbha could only be killed by an unmarried form of Parvati. Hence, as advised by Brahma, Shiva teased Parvati repeatedly for her skin colour. Parvati was agitated by this teasing, so she performed severe penance to Brahma so as to get a fair complexion. Brahma explained his inability to grant her a boon and instead requested her to stop her penance and slay the demons Shumbha and Nishumbha. Parvati agreed and went to take a bath in the Ganga river in Himalaya. Parvati entered in the Ganga river and as she took a bath, her dark skin washed off from her person entirely and she came back out as a beautiful golden woman, wearing white garments and apparels, so she gained the epithet "Mahagauri". She then appeared in front of the gods who were praying to her at the Himalayas for the destruction of Shumbha and Nishumbha, and worriedly asked who was being worshipped by them. She then reflected as the black Kaushiki and answered herself saying that the gods were praying to her,after being defeated by the demons Shumbh and Nishumbh. Parvati then turned black out of pity for the gods and was called Kalika. She then transformed into Chandi (Chandraghanta) and killed demon Dhumralochan. Chanda and Munda were killed by Goddess Chamunda who appeared out from the third eye of Chandi. Chandi then killed Raktabija and his clones, while Chamunda drank their blood. Parvati turned into Kaushiki again and killed Shumbh and Nishumbh, after which she transformed back into Mahagauri. Hence Parvati killed Shumbha and Nishumbha, giving her the titles of Mahasaraswati or Ambika in the Shiva purana and the Devi Mahatmya (part of the Markandeya Purana) respectively.

Mounted upon the back of an ox, she rode back home to Kailash, where Mahadev was waiting for her. The two became reunited once again and lived happily with their sons, Kartikeya and Ganesh.

Mother Gauri is Devi, Shakti or the Mother Goddess, who appears in many forms, such as Durga, Parvati, Kali, and others. She is auspicious, brilliant and protects the good people while punishing those who perform evil deeds. Mother Gauri enlightens the spiritual seeker and removes the fear of rebirth by granting salvation.