Today we will tell you the story of Mahagauri.

Mahagauri is the Goddess worshipped on the eighth day of Navarathri.After killing all the demons, Goddess Parvathi was left with skin as dark as night. Seeing her Lord Shiva, her husband teased her with the name ‘Kaali'(dark skinned).

Agitated Parvathi worshipped Lord Brahma to regain her fair skin, by undergoing a severe penance lasting several days. Pleased by her worship, Lord Brahma advises her to take a bath in the holy Ganga. She takes a bath in the river Ganga. As she bathes, her dark skin separates from her and takes the form of a female called ‘Kaushiki’.

Later Kaushiki fights with the demons Shumbha and Nishumbha, to slay them. Shumbha and Nishumbha had gained a boon from Lord Brahma, according to which they could not be slayed by any man, demon, God nor any deity.

Parvathi regains her white complexion and beauty and thus comes to be known as ‘Mahagauri’. Goddess Mahagauri has the power to fulfill all the desires of her devotees.

Meanings:

Agitated : feeling troubled or appearing nervous.

Slay : to kill a person or animal