Also called Uma, Parvati, and Haimavathi, Goddess Gauri is an incarnation of Goddess Parvati and the consort of Lord Shiva.
In Hinduism, the names of Gauri and Parvati are interchangeably used even in the ancient Puranas because of the incarnation story of Goddess Gauri.
In that story, Devi Parvathi herself had done penance to incarnate as Gauri, attaining a golden complexion after feeling slighted by Lord Shiva’s comments about her dark colour.
This narrative indicates Parvathi’s dedication to Shiva, emphasising the themes of austerities and ultimate consciousness.
Gauri devi symbolises beauty, purity, motherhood, and fertility. Many married women perform austerities to Goddess Gauri to bless their marriage and for a long relationship.
Depiction of Goddess Gauri
Goddess Gauri holds a dear place in the hearts of many devotees as the wife of Lord Shiva and as the Goddess of strength, fertility, and auspiciousness.
Depictions of Goddess Gauri show her as fair-skinned, adorned with jewels and flowers, and richly robed in silk garments.
She often has a serene expression symbolising purity, tranquillity, and strength and is an embodiment of grace, beauty, and compassion.
In many sculptures, Gauri Devi appears alongside Shiva on his left, especially in the forms Hara-Gauri or Gauri-Shankar.
She is often shown with a crescent moon and sometimes riding a bull.
Maa Gauri is depicted as young with either two hands held in Abhaya and Varada poses or with four hands. In the form of four hands, one shows Abhaya mudra, the rest three holds an Akshamala( Rosary), Padma (Lotus) and a put with holy water (Kamandalu).
Importance of Worshipping this Goddess
In almost all the auspicious occasions of one’s life, Hindus, especially in southern India, prepare a small pyramid-like structure made of turmeric to represent Goddess Gauri and worship her. This shows the importance of this Goddess in bringing auspiciousness.
Gowri mata is revered for her bestowing nature and for granting her devotees wisdom, strength, power, and auspiciousness.
Devotees worship this Goddess in several parts of India to receive good harvests.
Alongside this, devi also represents the nurturing aspects of motherhood, the strength of womanhood, along with the ultimate consciousness.
Devotees celebrate festivals like Navaratri, Gauri Habba, Gauri Pooja, Mangala Gauri Vrat, and Kedara Gauri Vrat to honour this Goddess.
Story of Goddess Gauri: How Maa Parvati Became Gauri
Various stories in Hindu mythology depict Goddess Gauri’s union with Shiva and her efforts to win his love, showing her devotion.
Once, Lord Shiva addressed Goddess Parvathi as Kali (black or dark one).
Listening to Lord Shiva, Devi Parvati felt enraged and thought she had displeased Lord Shiva as her husband called her a dark one.
So Parvathi said, Lord Shiva, that she can’t even bear the thought of displeasing you. Further told that she will do penance as an ordinary woman and become fair to please you.
Goddess Parvati started performing the penance in a jungle. One day, a tiger in the hunt for a meal saw the Goddess in Tapasya. Looking at her keenly made the tiger lose the evil thoughts and made the tiger her devotee.
That tiger started protecting Goddess Parvathi and became a part of the Shiva Parivar from that time.
On the other hand, Lord Brahma thought of granting the boons. But he understood the Parvati’s act of penance was the wish of Lord Shiva. That is to show the importance of devotion, dedication, and austerities in one’s life.
However, unable to bear the power of penance, Lord Brahma came to Goddess Parvathi and granted the wish to become fair as she wished.
Parvathi then lost the dark colour of the body. That dark matter emerged as Devi Koushiki, who fought in the War and killed Shumbha and Nishumbha.
Parvathi returned to her husband as Goddess Gauri. Shiva, pleased by the austerities performed and the devotion to him, granted her several powers.
There are several other stories about Goddess Gauri, especially the ones related to Vrats and Puranas.
