Navratri: The reason behind worship of Goddess Mahagauri in its 8th day

Today is the eighth day of Navratri and Durgashtami is celebrated on this day.  Mahagauri Shakti is worshiped on this day.  It is clear from the name that his form is completely Gaur Varna.  Mahagauri did severe penance to get Shiva as her husband.  Because of this, his body turned black, but pleased with his penance, Lord Shiva washed his body with the holy water of the Ganges and made him radiant.  His form became of Gaur Varna.  That's why she was called Mahagauri.  His likeness is given to the conch, the moon and the flower of the Kunda.  Ashtavarsha Bhaved Gauri i.e. her age is considered to be eight years.  All their ornaments and clothes are white.  That is why she is called Shwetambardhara.  Mahagauri has 4 arms and the vehicle is Vrishabha.  That is why she is also called Vrisharudha.

• Mythological story of Maa Mahagaur

 There are two mythological stories about Mahagauri, the eighth form of Maa Durga.  According to the first legend, after being born in the house of the mountain king Himalaya, mother Parvati did severe penance to get Lord Shiva in her husband's form.  While doing penance, the mother had been fasting for thousands of years, due to which the body of the mother had turned black.  On the other hand, Lord Shiva, pleased by the harsh penance of the mother, accepted Mother Parvati as his wife and made her very radiant by washing the body of the mother with the holy water of the Ganges, the mother's form became glorified.  After which this form of Mother Parvati was called Mahagauri.

second legend

On the other hand, according to another legend, after killing all the demons in the form of Kalratri, Bholnath teased Goddess Parvati by calling her mother Kali. In order to get her skin agitated, the mother did severe penance for several days and offered Arghya to Brahma ji. Pleased with Goddess Parvati, Brahma ji advised him to take a bath in the Mansarovar river in the Himalayas. Following the advice of Lord Brahma, Mother Parvati took a bath in Mansarovar. After bathing in this river, the mother's form became proud. That is why this form of mother was called Mahagauri. Let us tell you that Mother Parvati is the form of Goddess Bhagwati.

• Worship method 

Light a lamp of ghee in front of Maa Gauri and meditate on her form.  Offer Roli, Akshaya flowers to the mother.  Praise the mother's aarti and feed at least 8 girls.  Maa Mahagauri will be pleased with this.  This day is considered very auspicious for women who are married.  Suhagan women should bathe the idol with pure water and adorn it completely with clothes and ornaments.  Then worship should be done methodically.  Light the fire of Havan and offer offerings of incense, camphor, ghee, guggul and Havan material.  There is also a law to offer a sacrifice by wrapping a nutmeg in vermilion.  After worshiping the goddess with incense, lamp, naivedya, 101 parikramas are given while chanting the jai of Mateshwari.

• Maa Mahagauri Mantra

 Shweta Vrishe Samarudha Shwetambardhara Shuchi, Maha Gauri Shubham Dadhyana Mahadev Pramodda

• The fruit is obtained by worship: 

On this day, devotees perform Kanjak Puja and offer poori, sooji halwa, and sookhe kale chane to the goddess and kanjak (girl) as prasad.