Worshipped on the eighth day of Navratri, Goddess Mahagauri is the incarnation of Shakti which represents recovery & purity. Maha means extreme, while Gauri means bright. Carried by a white bull, she is depicted having four hands, two of her arms, one on each side, are in the Varada and Abhay mudras, which she is using to bless her devotees and eliminate fear from their lives. Her other arms are holding the Trishul (trident) and Damru (tambourine). She is often seen clothed in pure white.

When Parvati embarked on her journey to become the divine mate to Lord Shiva by pursuing extreme restraints from all desires of the material world, she penanced for thousands of years. As a result, her skin lost its radiance, and her body was now coated in dust, soil, leaves, and other debris. When Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva agreed to marry, Lord Shiva decided to cleanse her because she had become weak and was covered in dirt of all kinds. He let the holy Ganga waters flow through his hair and fall onto Parvati. This sacred water washed away all of Parvati's dirt, allowing her to regain her lost radiance.

This incarnation of Shakti illustrates the need for rest and recovery which is required before beginning something new. Goddess Ganga removes all impurity from Shakti’s body before she is married to Lord Shiva. This phenomenon signifies the importance of letting oneself rest or recover before stepping into or starting something new, as it makes space for more energy and enthusiasm.