Original text
नाम मंत्र: ॐ देवी महागौर्यै नमः॥ प्रार्थना (ध्यान श्लोक): श्वेते वृषे समारूढा श्वेताम्बरधरा शुचिः। महागौरी शुभं दद्यान्महादेव प्रमोददा॥ स्तुति: या देवी सर्वभूतेषु माँ महागौरी रूपेण संस्थिता। नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥
Transliteration
Naam mantra: Om devi mahagauryai namah || Prarthana (dhyana shloka): Shvete vrishe samarudha shvetambaradhara shuchih Mahagauri shubham dadyanmahadeva pramodada || Stuti: Ya devi sarvabhuteshu man mahagauri rupena sansthita Namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah ||
Who is Maa Mahagauri?
Maa Mahagauri is the eighth of the Navdurga, the nine forms of Maa Durga worshipped on the nine days of Navratri. Her name means "the great fair one" — radiant, white and pure. In Shardiya Navratri 2026 she is worshipped on Day 8 (Ashtami), Sunday 18 October.
Parvati's long penance for Shiva, out in the sun, wind and rain, darkened her body. When Shiva, pleased at last, bathed her with the waters of the Ganga, her body became radiantly fair — and she became Mahagauri. Her whiteness is compared to the conch, the moon and the jasmine flower.
She stands for purity, calm and the washing away of past wrongs. Ashtami, her day, is one of the most important days of Navratri: many keep the Ashtami vrat, and kanya puja — worshipping young girls as the Devi — is performed in countless homes.
Her form
She is dressed in white, rides a white bull, and has four arms — a trident and a damru in two, the other two in fearlessness and blessing.
Mantras of Maa Mahagauri
Naam mantra: ॐ देवी महागौर्यै नमः॥ — chant 108 times on a mala.
Prarthana (dhyana shloka):
श्वेते वृषे समारूढा श्वेताम्बरधरा शुचिः।
महागौरी शुभं दद्यान्महादेव प्रमोददा॥
Stuti:
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु माँ महागौरी रूपेण संस्थिता।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥
The stuti is modelled on the Devi Mahatmya's "Ya Devi sarvabhuteshu" hymn, with her name in place: "To the Devi who dwells in all beings in the form of Maa Mahagauri — salutations to her, again and again."
Puja vidhi on Day 8
- Wake early, bathe and wear clean clothes; light the lamp before the kalash and the Devi's image.
- Take a sankalpa for the day's worship (and the Navratri vrat, if you are keeping it).
- Invoke Maa Mahagauri with the prarthana shloka above, picturing her form.
- Offer water, roli, akshat, red flowers or a red chunri, dhoop and a ghee lamp.
- Offer the day's bhog: coconut; on Ashtami the kanya puja bhog of halwa, puri and black chana is also offered.
- Chant the naam mantra 108 times, then the stuti; read the Durga Chalisa or a chapter of the Durga Saptashati if you can.
- Close with the aarti, Jai Ambe Gauri, and distribute the prasad.
Many families do kanya puja on Ashtami, others on Navami — both are traditional.
The nine days
← Day 7: Maa Kalaratri · Day 9: Maa Siddhidatri →
See all nine forms on the Maa Durga page, and dates and muhurat in Shardiya Navratri 2026.
Frequently asked questions
On which day of Navratri is Maa Mahagauri worshipped?
On the eighth day (Ashtami); in Shardiya Navratri 2026 that is Sunday 18 October.
What is the mantra of Maa Mahagauri?
The naam mantra is ॐ देवी महागौर्यै नमः॥, chanted 108 times, along with her prarthana shloka and the "Ya Devi sarvabhuteshu" stuti.
What bhog is offered to Maa Mahagauri?
Traditionally coconut; on Ashtami the kanya puja bhog of halwa, puri and black chana is also offered. Customs vary between families and regions.
Why is she called Mahagauri?
Because after her penance Shiva bathed her in Ganga water and her darkened body became radiantly fair.
Is kanya puja done on Ashtami or Navami?
Both are traditional; many families do it on Ashtami, the day of Mahagauri, and others on Navami.
Spotted a mistake?
If you find any grammatical, Hindi, English, mantra-text or other mistake on this page, tell us — we will correct it within 24 hours.