The name Mahagauri (Mahā, महा = great; Gaurī, गौरी = white) means extremely white. Thus she is white in color and very beautiful. She is usually depicted with four hands, the hands holding a trident, lotus, and drum, while the fourth is in a blessing gesture. The lotus is sometimes replaced with a rosary. She rides a white bull, usually shown wearing white clothes.
The colour purple should be worn on Navrati’s eighth day, Ashtami. It is the colour of intelligence and peace and should be worn on the day of Maa Mahagauri.
The carrier of Maa Mahagauri is a bull. In her depiction, she is shown as mounted on a bull and thus, is also known as Vrisharudha.
Significance of Maa Mahagauri Puja
It is considered that praying to Goddess Mahagauri will take your troubles away. As she governs the malefic planet Rahu, praying to her can remove the planetary defects and a person will be blessed with growth and happiness in life. This is why the day Maha Ashtami is considered to be the day when devotees should pray for the removal of sufferings from their life.
श्वेते वृषे समारुढा श्वेताम्बरधरा शुचिः।
महागौरी शुभं दघान्महादेवप्रमोददा॥
Śvētē vr̥ṣē samāruḍhā śvētāmbaradharā śuciḥ.
Mahāgaurī śubhaṁ daghānmahādēvapramōdadā.
Mantra:
ॐ देवी महागौर्यै नमः॥
Om Devi Mahagauryai Namah॥
Dhyan Mantra:
पूर्णन्दु निभां गौरी सोमचक्रस्थितां अष्टमं महागौरी त्रिनेत्राम्।
वराभीतिकरां त्रिशूल डमरूधरां महागौरी भजेम्॥
Pūrṇandu nibhāṁ gaurī sōmacakrasthitāṁ aṣṭamaṁ mahāgaurī trinētrām.
Varābhītikarāṁ triśūla ḍamarūdharāṁ mahāgaurī bhajēm.