Eighth Day of Navratri 2022: Goddess Maa Mahagauri
This year Chaitra Navratri is even more auspicious as it is falling on a Saturday for the first day. Goddess Maa Durga is supposed to come riding on a vehicle at the start of every Navratri. This time the Goddess Durga will come riding on a horse. This is considered to be very auspicious and full of divine blessings.
Goddess Mahagauri is known to be the Goddess of serenity and purity. She also represents wisdom and austerity.
Form
Mahagauri in form has four arms. Her right arm is in the pose of diminishing fear and the lower right hand holds a trident in it. In her left upper arm, she holds a tambourine while the lower left hand is in the form of a blessing. She is the eighth avatar of Durga amongst the Navadurgas.
Her mount is a strong Ox. She rides a white bull that is commonly shown wearing white clothes.
Purpose
She played a vital role in slaying the demons Shumbha and Nishumbha. She also transformed into Chandraghanta and killed the demon Dhumralochan. Mother Gauri is also known as the Devi, Shakthi and Mother Goddess who appears in many more forms like the Goddess Parvati, Durga, Kali and others.
She is one of the most auspicious forms of Maa Durga. She protects her devotees fiercely from evil and severely punishes those who do any kind of evil deeds. Mother Gauri also enlightens the spiritual seekers. She even removes the fear of rebirth from her devotees by granting salvation or moksh to them.
This year, Goddess Mahagauri’s worshipping and reverence day is likely to fall on April 9th, 2022.
Offerings
Coconut is one of the main items that is offered with lots of love and devotion to Goddess Mahagauri. This day is also known as Ashtami (the eighth day). It is even believed that by donating coconuts to Brahmins on this day, a childless couple may have a healthy, intelligent and beautiful child.
More offerings include sweet unboiled milk, sweets made from mawa, black chana, and fresh jasmine flowers as long as it is offered with a pious heart. On this day young girls are invited home and are offered an auspicious meal as part of the Puja. The prayer ritual that is performed is also known as Kanjak Puja.
Pink is the favoured colour as it denotes confidence, joy, invigoration and a resplendent new beginning.
COMMENT