Mahagauri: Difference between revisions

| affiliation = [[Avatar]] of [[parvati]]

'''Mahagauri'is the eighth avatar of [[Durga]] and amongst the [[Navadurgas]]. Mahagauri is worshipped on the eighth day of [[Navaratri]]. According to Hinduism, Goddess Mahagauri has the power to fulfill all the desires of her devotees. The one who worships the goddess, gets relief from all the sufferings in life.<ref name="astrobix1">{{cite web |author=Hindu Astrology |url=http://www.astrobix.com/hinduism/post/mahagauri-durga-pooja-ashtmi-tithi.aspx |title=Mahagauri &#124; Durga Pooja Ashtami Tithi |publisher=Astrobix.com |date=2011-09-28 |accessdate=2013-02-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130102085957/http://www.astrobix.com/hinduism/post/mahagauri-durga-pooja-ashtmi-tithi.aspx |archive-date=2013-01-02 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Mahagauri has four arms. Her right arm is in the pose of allaying fear and right lower hand holds a trident in it. She holds a tambourine in her left upper arm and the lower one is in the form of a blessing.

The name Mahagauri means extremely bright, clean complexioned, with a shine like the moon. (Mahā, महा = great; Gaurī,  गौरी = bright, clean). Mahagauri is usually depicted with four hands, the hands holding a trident, fear dispelling gesture, and drum, while the fourth is in a blessing gesture.She rides a white bull, usually shown wearing white clothes.

== Legends ==

The demons [[Shumbha]] and [[Nishumbha]] could only be killed by a virgin, unmarried form of [[Parvati]]. Hence, as advised by [[Brahma]], Shiva repeatedly called Parvati as "Kali" for no reason, in a rather mocking way. Parvati was agitated by this teasing, so she performed severe penance to Brahma so as to get a golden 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 (goddess)|Ganga]] river in [[Himalaya]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=www.wisdomlib.org|date=2018-11-08|title=Śiva’s sports on the Mandara mountain [Chapter 24]|url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/shiva-purana-english/d/doc226660.html|access-date=2021-08-10|website=www.wisdomlib.org|language=en}}</ref> 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".<ref>{{Cite web|last=www.wisdomlib.org|date=2018-11-08|title=The goddess (devī) attains fair complexion [Chapter 25]|url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/shiva-purana-english/d/doc226661.html#note-t-89255|access-date=2021-08-10|website=www.wisdomlib.org|language=en}}</ref> 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 herself as the black [[Kaushiki]] Durga and answered her own question saying that the gods were praying to her being defeated by the demons Shumbh and Nishumbh. After absorbing her back,  Parvati then turned black out of pity for the gods and was called Kalika.<ref>{{Cite web|last=www.wisdomlib.org|date=2014-09-12|title=The Devī-Māhātmya: The goddess’ conversation with the Asura’s messenger [Canto LXXXV]|url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-markandeya-purana/d/doc117163.html|access-date=2021-08-10|website=www.wisdomlib.org|language=en}}</ref> She then  transformed into [[Chandi]] ([[Chandraghanta]]) and killed demon Dhumralochan. [[Chanda (monster)|Chanda]] and [[Munda (Hinduism)|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 (goddess)|Ambika]] in the Shiva purana and the Devi Mahatmya (part of the Markandeya Purana) respectively.<ref>{{Cite web|last=www.wisdomlib.org|date=2018-11-04|title=Dhūmralocana, Caṇḍa, Muṇḍa and Raktabīja are slain [Chapter 47]|url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/shiva-purana-english/d/doc226607.html|access-date=2021-08-10|website=www.wisdomlib.org|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=www.wisdomlib.org|date=2018-11-04|title=The manifestation of Sarasvatī [Chapter 48]|url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/shiva-purana-english/d/doc226608.html|access-date=2021-08-10|website=www.wisdomlib.org|language=en}}</ref>