Eighth day of Navratri puja is also known as Maha Pooja during Navratri. The eight day of Navratri or Ashtami is dedicated to Goddess Mahagauri, who is the eight Avatar of nine goddesses. She is the wife of lord Shiva. Her name denotes, why she is called by the name Mahagauri, “Maha” means extreme or great and “Gauri” means white complexion. She has the extreme white complexion like moon or snow. Goddess Mahagauri has other names also which are Shwetambardhara, Vrisharudha, Chaturbhuji and Shambhavi. The reasons behind these names are, she dressed white cloths so called as “Shwetambardhara”, rides the bull so known as “Vrisharudha” and have four hands so knows as “Chaturbhuji”.
According to mythology, legend says that Parvathi want to get lord Shiva as her husband so she left all the comforts of the palace and started the tough penance in the forest. While performing the severe penance for many years, Parvathi’s body turned black due to dust, soil and leaves of trees. At the last, lord Shiva pleased with her hard penance and blessed her that he would marry to her. Lord Shiva cleaned the goddess Parvathi with the sacred water of holy Ganga. All the dust, soil and dirt were washed away from the body of Goddess Parvathi and she got the extremely white complexion. Thus Goddess Parvathi is also known as Mahagauri.
Navratri 8th day is one of the most important days of Navratri. This year in 2016, it will be celebrated on the 9th October, 2016 i.e. on Sunday. To defend God from the cruel Goddess Mahagauri demolish the demons Shumbh and Nishumbh on this day.
The devotees should perform the eighth day of Navratri puja with huge devotion and pure mind so that Devi Mahagauri fulfills all their desires. Devi Maha Gauri vanishes all the previous sins and wrong deeds of the devotees and purifies their life. Devi Maa leads them to the path of truth and happiness.
About Goddess Maha Gauri:
She is extremely beautiful and have fair (White as snow) complexion. Devi Mahagauri’ s procession (Sawari) is white bull (vrishabha), dressed white cloths or green cloths and adorned white ornaments. She is portrayed with three eyes and four hands. In her lower right hand, she holds a trident (Trishul) while upper right hand is in the form of allaying fear. Her left upper hand holds a Damaru while lower left hand is in the pose of blessing to devotees. She is the symbol of purity, calmness and tranquillity and represents the wisdom. She has the power to turn impossible things into possible.
Eighth Day of Navratri Pooja Rituals:
On the eighth day of Navratri many rituals have been performed like, it is the day for Maha Puja, a day to worship nine little girls considering them nine goddess of Navratri and for some devotees 8th day of Navratri is for breaking their fast. On the eight day of Navratri Pooja, married women offer the red chunri to goddess Maha Gauri for the long life of their husbands. Along with Goddess Mahagauri, lord Shiva is also worshipped on this day. To break their fast, they need to do the Kanyak 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 same food.
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