Mahagauri – 8th day of Navaratri

Day 8 of Navaratri is here, and we are celebrating Maa Mahagauri. Her name translates into Great (Maha) Gauri (White). White is usually known as a symbol of purity. Maa Mahagauri is depicted to have four hands— one holding a Trishul, another holding a Damaru Drum, one holding a rosary and the other holding a blessing position. It is said that this form of Maa has a complexion that is that of a conch. A conch is not only white but also slightly pink and hence I did not make her purely white. This doesn’t mean she’s any less pure, but also signifies the Chakra she’s in.

Now you must be thinking, “wait there’s only 7 chakras right?” Well, there’s one more chakra, called the Soma Chakra. This Chakra is in the core of the brain. The Sahasaara Chakra is on the top of the head, smack in the middle— and is a gateway to this chakra. It is from this chakra that you attain the knowledge and understanding of your true raw self. The answer to the question ,”who am I?”

I made her complexion like a conch because she’s there, always, and is our conscience. When there’s adharma (injustice) going on, she sounds the conch. When something right happens in alignment, she also sounds the conch. It is true this chakra that we realise the divinity not only within ourselves, but within every living thing. Every tree, plant, animal, person— there is divinity in everyone and the due respect is needed. It is through this chakra that we realise the inner unity, contentment and bliss. And when we realise this, we truly serve our base dharma (purpose) of being empathetic beings. Maa Mahagauri is the pure consciousness within us all.

(Artwork by yours truly: Dhevamitra)

Jai Pratyangira Jai Jai Pratyangira
Jai Maa Mahagauri
Jai Adiparasakthi Namo Namaha
Jai Bhuvaneswari Jai Namo Varahi
ANBE SIVAM
Thiruchitrambalam .

P.S If you have issues with me drawing my mom as a goddess .I am just sharing with love and bhakthi as an offering to the Gurumatha within without during these nine nights as a way of Thanksgiving to our beloved Gurumatha Pratyangira and my parents who have been my everything and they are my Gurus , it's my choice and right as an artist of how I choose to draw the mother and I would rather draw my own mom as a GODDESS which inspired me in the first place as I have personally experienced it for myself as my parents have given me freedom to express my abilities to articulate and it's my personal choice so just chill .