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Shree Mahaagauree Ashtottarashatanaamaavalih
1. Om Gauryai Namaha
2. Om Gaurava/Vardhinyai Namaha
3. Om Gautama/Sthaana/Vaasinyai Namaha
4. Om Gauraangyai Namaha
5. Om Gautama/Poojyaayai Namaha
6. Om Gandha/Pushpaayai Namaha
7. Om Gandharva/Nagara/Priyaayai Namaha
8. Om Gambheera/Angyai Namaha
9. Om Guna/Mayyai Namaha
10. Om Gata/Aatankaayai Namaha
11. Om Gati/Priyaayai Namaha
12. Om Gananaatha/Ambikaayai Namaha
13. Om Gadya/Padya/Parishtutaayai Namaha
14. Om Gaandhaaryai Namaha
15. Om Garbha/Shamanyai Namaha
16. Om Gatibhrashta/Gati/Pradaayai Namaha
17. Om Gomatyai Namaha
18. Om Guhya/Vidyaayai Namaha
19. Om Garimaa/Yutaayai Namaha
20. Om Goptryai Namaha
21. Om Gagana/Gaaminyai Namaha
22. Om Gotra/Pravardhinyai Namaha
23. Om Gunyaayai Namaha
24. Om Guna/Ateetaayai Namaha
25. Om Guna/Agranyai Namaha
26. Om Guha/Ambikaayai Namaha
27. Om Gananeeya/Charitraayai Namaha
28. Om Goodha/Roopaayai Namaha
29. Om Gunavatyai Namaha
30. Om Gaana/Siddhaayai Namaha
31. Om Gurvyai Namaha
32. Om Graha/Peedaa/Haraayai Namaha
33. Om Gundraayai Namaha
34. Om Garaghnyai Namaha
35. Om Gaana/Vatsalaayai Namaha
36. Om Gangaayai Namaha
37. Om Gaana/Harsha/Prapooritaayai Namaha
38. Om Gandharva/Vaasinyai Namaha
39. Om Gandharvaayai Namaha
40. Om Gagana/Aaraadhyaayai Namaha
41. Om Ganaayai Namaha
42. Om Gandharva/Sevitaayai Namaha
43. Om Ganatkaara/Ganaa/Devyai Namaha
44. Om Guna/Aatmikaayai Namaha
45. Om Gunataayai Namaha
46. Om Guna/Daatryai Namaha
47. Om Guna/Gaurava/Daayinyai Namaha
48. Om Ganesha/Maatre Namaha
49. Om Gambheeraayai Namaha
50. Om Gaganaayai Namaha
51. Om Gaana/Santushta/Maanasaayai Namaha
52. Om Gamyaayai Namaha
53. Om Gadaadhara/Priyaayai Namaha
54. Om Guha/Eeshvaryai Namaha
55. Om Gatidaayai Namaha
56. Om Gunavatyai Namaha
57. Om Guna/Ateetaayai Namaha
58. Om Guna/Eeshvaryai Namaha
59. Om Gaayatryai Namaha
60. Om Gagana/Aalayaayai Namaha
61. Om Gave Namaha
62. Om Gaadhaayai Namaha
63. Om Gaandhaaryai Namaha
64. Om Gomatyai Namaha
65. Om Garvinyai Namaha
66. Om Garva/Hantryai Namaha
67. Om Garbha/Sthaayai Namaha
68. Om Garbha/Dhaarinyai Namaha
69. Om Garbha/Daayai Namaha
70. Om Garbha/Hantryai Namaha
71. Om Gayaayai Namaha
72. Om Gadinyai Namaha
73. Om Ganapaayai Namaha
74. Om Ganakaayai Namaha
75. Om Gunyaayai Namaha
76. Om Gunaka/Aananda/Kaarinyai Namaha
77. Om Guna/Poojyaayai Namaha
78. Om Ganapa/Aananda/Vivardhinyai Namaha
79. Om Guru/Maatraayai Namaha
80. Om Guru/Rataayai Namaha
81. Om Guru/Bhakti/Paraayanaayai Namaha
82. Om Gotraayai Namaha
83. Om Gandharva/Gana/Kushalaayai Namaha
84. Om Graahikaayai Namaha
85. Om Goodhaayai Namaha
86. Om Gambheeraayai Namaha
87. Om Guna/Garvitaayai Namaha
88. Om Guhyaayai Namaha
89. Om Gana/Gandharva/Sevitaayai Namaha
90. Om Guhya/Vidyaayai Namaha
91. Om Garuda/Aasanaayai Namaha
92. Om Ganavatyai Namaha
93. Om Guha/Aalayaayai Namaha
94. Om Gajendra/Vara/Vaahanaayai Namaha
95. Om Gandharaayai Namaha
96. Om Guha/Ashayaayai Namaha
97. Om Gaadhyai Namaha
98. Om Galad/Rakta/Vibhooshanaayai Namaha
99. Om Garishthaayai Namaha
100. Om Gaana/Shakti/Pradaayinyai Namaha
101. Om Galach/Chhonita/Mundaalyai Namaha
102. Om Guru/Shreshthaayai Namaha
103. Om Gridhra/Roopyai Namaha
104. Om Gagana/Vaahinyai Namaha
105. Om Gandhavatyai Namaha
106. Om Gandharva/Kula/Poojitaayai Namaha
107. Om Gunjaa/Haara/Vibhooshanaayai Namaha
108. Om Govinda/Anghri/Samudbhavaayai Namaha
Iti Shree Mahaagauree Ashtottarashatanaamaavalih
Meaning
The Mahagauri Ashtottara Shatanamavali is a list of 108 names of Mahagauri Devi, the eighth form of Durga, worshipped on Durgashtami, the eighth day of Navaratri. She shines white like a conch, the moon and the kunda flower. The namavali opens with Om Gauryai Namaha, "the fair one", then Om Gauravavardhinyai Namaha, "the one who increases honour", and Om Gautamasthaanavaasinyai Namaha.
Significance
All 108 names begin with the sound "G", the first sound of Gauri. Many are built on "Guna", good qualities, and present her as both full of virtues and beyond them, as in Om Gunamayyai Namaha and Om Gunaateetaayai Namaha. The names also link her closely with Shiva's family: Om Ganeshamaatre Namaha calls her the mother of Ganesha, and Om Guhaambikaayai Namaha the mother of Guha, that is Skanda.
Some names fit her story very closely. Om Gauraangyai Namaha means the one with fair limbs, the radiant body that came after her long penance. Om Gangaayai Namaha names her as Ganga herself, the very river Shiva poured over her to wash away the darkness. Om Gataaatankaayai Namaha means the one free from all fear, and Om Gaayatryai Namaha names her as Gayatri. After the black, fierce Kalaratri of the seventh day, these names bring the calm and bright face of the same Mother.
How and when to chant
The natural time to chant this namavali is on Durgashtami, the eighth day of Navaratri, though it can be said on any day. Light a lamp before her picture or the Navaratri kalasha and offer a pinch of kumkuma or a flower at each name. White flowers, especially jasmine, are offered to her. Dishes made with milk and payasam are popular naivedya. In many homes young girls are also honoured as forms of the Goddess on this day. A steady recitation takes about ten minutes. A namavali needs no initiation, so anyone can chant it with devotion.
To read how Parvati's dark body turned radiant white, see the story of Mahagauri Devi.
Frequently asked questions
Which day of Navaratri is Mahagauri worshipped, and who is she?
What is the Mahagauri Ashtottara Shatanamavali and how is it chanted?
What is the mantra of Mahagauri?
What flowers and naivedya are offered to Mahagauri?
What does "Om Gangaayai Namaha" mean?
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