Mahagauri is the eighth of the nine forms of Durga, worshipped on the eighth day of Navaratri, Durgashtami. She shines white like a conch shell, like the moon, like the kunda (jasmine) flower. After the black, fierce Kalaratri of the seventh day, the eighth day brings the calmest and brightest form of the Mother.
Mahagauri dhyana sloka and its meaning
श्वेते वृषे समारूढा श्वेतांबरधरा शुचिः । महागौरी शुभं दद्यान्महादेवप्रमोददा ॥
Śvete vṛṣe samārūḍhā śvetāṃbaradharā śuciḥ | Mahāgaurī śubhaṃ dadyānmahādevapramodadā ||
Meaning: May Goddess Mahagauri grant all of us what is auspicious: she who is dressed in white, who rides a white bull, who is supremely pure, and who always brings joy to Mahadeva.
Almost every word here is about whiteness and purity: śveta (white) appears twice, and śuci means pure. The last word, mahādevapramodadā, "the one who delights Mahadeva", ties her to Shiva, which is exactly where her story begins.
Watch the story
A narrated retelling from our YouTube channel, in the regional language of this site.
What the name Mahagauri means
Gauri means the fair or white-complexioned one, and maha means great. Mahagauri is "the great fair one". Gauri is also one of the oldest names of Parvati, and many homes in Karnataka and Andhra also worship the Goddess as Gauri in other festivals through the year.
The form of Mahagauri
Mahagauri is completely fair. Her clothes and her ornaments are all white. She has four hands:
- one shows abhaya mudra, removing fear;
- one holds a trident (trishula);
- one holds a damaru, the small drum of Shiva;
- one shows varada mudra, giving boons.
She rides a white bull and appears with a deeply peaceful face. The trident, the damaru and the white bull are all things we usually see with Shiva, so this form shows her clearly as Shiva's consort.
The story of Mahagauri
The Puranic stories describe her appearance in this way.
The penance that turned her dark
Parvati made a firm vow: she would take no one but Shiva as her husband. With that resolve she began a great penance. Her discipline was so severe that her body turned completely black.
Washed white by the Ganga
Pleased with her tapas, Shiva appeared before her. From his matted locks he let the Ganga flow down over her. The moment the holy water touched her, her body became bright as lightning and began to shine with a fair, white glow. From that day she has been known as Mahagauri.
This is a lovely detail to hold on to. The same Ganga that Shiva carries in his hair is the water that restored Parvati's radiance. Her penance turned her dark; his grace made her shine again.
The second story
Another story says that once Shiva, in a playful mood, called Parvati "Kali", the dark one. Upset by the teasing, the Goddess did penance to Lord Brahma, and through it she gained the radiant form of Mahagauri.
Both stories reach the same place. Mahagauri is the Mother after the hard work of tapas is done, when everything dark has been washed away.
How Mahagauri is worshipped on Durgashtami
Durgashtami is one of the most important days of Navaratri, and the Goddess is worshipped on this day as Mahagauri. In many homes, young girls are invited on Ashtami or Navami, honoured as forms of the Goddess and given food and small gifts.
Flowers: White flowers are offered to her, especially jasmine.
Naivedya: A popular custom is to offer dishes made with milk, and payasam.
Mantra: Devotees chant this mantra 108 times:
ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं महागौर्यै नमः
Oṃ aiṃ hrīṃ klīṃ mahāgauryai namaḥ
What devotees pray to Mahagauri for
Mahagauri stands for purity and cleansing. Devotees believe she purifies the minds of those who worship her and gives them peace. Just as the Ganga washed away the darkness from her body, devotees pray that she will wash away what clouds their own minds.