Shardiya Navratri 2024 Day 8: Goddess Maha Gauri

Navratri 2024 festival is one of the most elaborate and prominent festivals celebrated by Hindus all over India. The 8th day of Navratri is known as Ashtami or Durga Ashtami that holds a lot of importance in the Hindu tradition. During Navratri, nine incarnations of goddess Durga are worshipped and celebrated. Sharad Navratri signifies the faith and belief of people in the power of the Goddess. The 8th Day Of Navratri 2024 is dedicated to Maa Maha Gauri, the 8th Avatar of Maa Durga.

Goddess Maha Gauri is the 8th form of Devi Durga and one of the graceful Goddesses among Nav Durga. She is majestically worshiped on the 8th day of Navratri Puja. Her complexion is completely white, and thus she is revered with the name 'Gauri'. Her beauty glows like a gleam of White Pearl. She denotes peace and endurance. She is depicted with four arms seated on a Vrishabha (bull). Her upper left-hand holds Trishul (trident), lower right-hand carries Damru (hand drum) and the other two hands are in different Mudras (positions). And this way, she became prominent with the name 'Gauri' and consort of Mahadev.

8th Day Of Navratri 2024

Navratri's 8th day is one of the most important days of Navratri. This year in 2019, it will be celebrated on October 10, 2024, i.e. on Sunday. To defend God from the cruel Goddess, Mahagauri demolishes the demons Shumbh and Nishumbh on this day. This goddess is the symbol of purity, tranquility, and serenity.

This Navratri, bring home a beautiful, divine symbol of the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi herself. We highly recommend you to Book Navratri Durga Pooja as this puja is very much important for the individual for getting the desired life partner. Also, this puja would end any delay in a native’s life.

Significance of Maha Gauri Puja

In some parts of the country, this day is celebrated as Astra Puja, which means that many people consider the eighth day of Navratri auspicious to worship their tools. This is because the weapons of Goddess Durga are worshipped as the symbol of female strength and courage. Her name denotes “Maha” as means of extreme or great, and “Gauri” means white complexion. Goddess Mahagauri has other names also known as Shwetambardhara, Vrisharudha, Chaturbhuji, and Shambhavi. This auspicious day is vivaciously celebrated with the whole of heart and devotion inclined towards Devi Maha Gauri. During Ashwin Shukla Ashtami, the Maha Gauri Poojan is performed. Maha Gauri Puja is accomplished with the worship of both Goddesses Gauri and Shankar (Lord Shiva). Adherence toward Maha Gauri is truly beneficial. Her worshippers are never returned with empty hands from the asylum of Goddess Gauri. Donations, customs, and rituals are performed during Ashtami of Navratri Puja to delight this deity.

Navratri 8th day Puja

On the eighth day of Navratri, many rituals have been performed like, it is the day for Maha Puja, a day for Kanya Puja- where nine little girls are worshipped, considering them nine goddesses of Navratri. For some devotees 8th day of Navratri is for breaking their fast. This year in 2024, it will be celebrated on October 10, 2024, i.e. on Sunday. On the eighth day of Navratri puja, married women offer the red chunni to goddess Maha Gauri for the long life of their husbands. Along with Goddess Mahagauri, Lord Shiva is also worshipped on this particular day. To break their fast they need to do the Kayak Pooja, in which they have to perform pooja of little nine girls, have to feed them good food it could be Kheer, Puri, and Halwa and offer them some gift then devotees can break their fast by eating the same food.

Maha Gauri Puja Vidhi

The Puja Vidhi on the Eight days of Navratri is quite difficult is quite special got all the natives.

• The puja Vidhi on the eight-day of Navratri.
• In many households, the Goddess is worshipped in the form of young girls which is known as kanjaks.
• They are made to sit in a line, after which a holy dhaaga (Kaleva) is tied onto their wrists, their feet are cleaned and their foreheads are adorned with the holy tilak.
• Then, they are served the specially cooked prasad, constituted of halva, puri and black grams.
• Along with the food, the girls are also given some money as a token of thanks and respect because they are worshipped as the young avatar of Mahagauri.

Or one can also Book Online Navratri puja by Future Point to bring you good health, wealth, and peace into his/her life.

According to Hindi Calendar, Maha Gauri pooja is performed on the Shukla Ashtami. Devotees should indulge in the Goddess Maha Gauri Pooja with a pure mind and chant the below mantras, shlokas and Maha Gauri Kavach on the eighth day of Navratri worship.

➧ Maa Mahagauri Mantra

श्वेते वृषेसमारूढा श्वेताम्बरधरा शुचिः।
महागौरी शुभं दद्यान्महादेव प्रमोददा॥
Shweta Vrishesamarudha Shwetambaradhara Shuchih।
Mahagauri Shubham Dadyanmahadeva Pramodada॥

➧ Goddess Mahagauri Stuti

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु माँ महागौरी रूपेण संस्थिता।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥
Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Maa Mahagauri Rupena Samsthita।
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah॥

Devi Maha Gauri Dhyana Mantra

वन्दे वाञ्छित कामार्थे चन्द्रार्धकृतशेखराम्।
सिंहारूढा चतुर्भुजा महागौरी यशस्विनीम्॥
पूर्णन्दु निभाम् गौरी सोमचक्रस्थिताम् अष्टमम् महागौरी त्रिनेत्राम्।
वराभीतिकरां त्रिशूल डमरूधरां महागौरी भजेम्॥
पटाम्बर परिधानां मृदुहास्या नानालङ्कार भूषिताम्।
मञ्जीर, हार, केयूर, किङ्किणि, रत्नकुण्डल मण्डिताम्॥
प्रफुल्ल वन्दना पल्लवाधरां कान्त कपोलाम् त्रैलोक्य मोहनम्।
कमनीयां लावण्यां मृणालां चन्दन गन्धलिप्ताम्॥

Vande Vanchhita Kamarthe Chandrardhakritashekharam।
Simharudha Chaturbhuja Mahagauri Yashasvinim॥
Purnandu Nibham Gauri Somachakrasthitam Ashtamam Mahagauri Trinetram।
Varabhitikaram Trishula Damarudharam Mahagauri Bhajem॥
Patambara Paridhanam Mriduhasya Nanalankara Bhushitam।
Manjira, Hara, Keyura, Kinkini, Ratnakundala Manditam॥
Praphulla Vandana Pallavadharam Kanta Kapolam Trailokya Mohanam।
Kamaniyam Lavanyam Mrinalam Chandana Gandhaliptam॥

With this, we hope that everyone gets to make the best of Navratri’s 8th day. May Goddess Mahagauri blesses you with all the goodness of life!