About Mahagauri
The eighth form of Goddess Durga is known as Mahagauri. She is said to appear as youthful as an eight-year-old girl, her form exceptionally handsome, beautiful and divine — as radiant and pure as a conch shell or the moon, adorned with fine ornaments. Goddess Mahagauri has four arms: in one right hand she holds a trident, while the other displays the gesture of fearlessness (abhaya mudra); with one left hand she offers the gesture of blessing (varada mudra), and in the other she holds a damaru (small drum). Her vehicle is the bull.
On the counsel of the sage Narada, the Goddess undertook harsh austerities in order to receive Lord Shiva as her husband. This intense penance darkened Parvati's complexion so greatly that Brahma himself remarked that no one before had performed such severe tapasya, nor would anyone match it again. Pleased by her devotion, Lord Shiva bathed her body with the sacred waters of the Ganga, restoring her to a radiant, fair (gaura) complexion — and from this she came to be known as Mahagauri.
She is worshipped on the eighth day of Navratri, on the date of Ashtami. Her worship is considered wholly beneficial for the devotee, freeing them from the sins of former births and relieving suffering, while granting imperishable virtue. By her grace, even seemingly impossible tasks are believed to become achievable.