8th Day of the Goddess

The 8th aspect of Mother Durga is the goddess Mahagauri whose fair complexion is often compared with the moon. Her garments and ornaments are also white. She has four arms and sits on a bullock. Like other goddesses, her right hand is in abbaya mudra, to allay fear. (Yes, we are reminded again and again by these goddesses that fear is unnecessary. You might like to read my comment about fearing the snake on our path, on the post: "dearest cherished students")


Although pictures and symbols are not necessary on a spiritual path, I enjoy the creations of those artists who have tried to portray images of gods and goddesses, especially in eastern traditions, just as I enjoy images of angels, while knowing that we cannot actually paint such beauty, which is beyond the physical.

It is said that this Mother Goddess performed severe austerities, also called tapasya, to obtain Lord Shiva as Her husband, and in the process her body became weak and lost its outer luster. When Lord Shiva became pleased with her hard spiritual work, He transformed her complexion into a shining one, like a flash of lightening.

While the angels do not suggest that anyone perform severe austerities, we must put forth self-effort on our path, even in the face of what may at times seem hopeless to the small ego. Especially when things seem hopeless, we must show up for our spiritual life! The more we show up, the more something wonderful begins to happen--our ego becomes weak and loses its outer luster (our false persona begins to fade away). As our false self weakens, our true spiritual nature emerges and we are transformed into a shining one, into Truth. We become that which we have been seeking. This is the divine marriage.