Goddess Gauri at Lalbagh 2012

Goddess Gauri at Lalbagh 2012, a photo by firoze shakir photographerno1 on Flickr.

sourced from goddess a day

Gauri is the Hindu Goddess of purity. She is an avatar of the Goddess Parvati. When Parvati first sought out Shiva to seduce him, Shiva found her dark skin to be unattractive. Parvati retreated into the forest, where she lived a very austere life, developing her spiritual powers. Brahma took notice of Parvati’s mastery of her physical self, and decided to grant her one wish. Parvati asked that her dark skin be taken away, so that Shiva would love her. Brahma took the darkness and created the Goddess Kali with it, leaving Parvati with golden skin, and she became the Goddess Gauri.

Gauri is usually depicted with light or golden skin. Because of her color, she is also associated with rice and grains, taking on the role of a fertility Goddess. Gauri’s name means “golden,” and her 108 name hymn includes the following names:
Shree gauri
Ganesha-janani
Guhambi-ka
Jaga-nnetri
Giritanu-bhava
Veera-bhadra-prasuve
Vishva-vyapini
Vishva-rupini
Ashta-murtyat-meka
Ashta-daridrya-shamani
Shiva
Shambha-va
Shan-kari
Balaa
Bhavani
Haima-vati
Parvati
Papa-nasini
Narayanam-shajaa
Nitya
Nirma-laa
Ambi-ka
Hemadri-jaa
Vedanta-lakshana
Karma-bramha-ma
Ganga-dhara-kutumbini
Mrudani
Muni-samsevya
Manini
Menakat-majaa
Kumari
Kanyaka
Durga
Kalidosha-vighatini
Katya-yani
Bhadra-daeni
Mangalya-daeni
Sarva-mangala
Manju-bhashini
Mahe-shvari
Maha-maya
Mantra-radhya
Maha-bala
Sati
Sarva-ma
Soubhagya-da
Kama-kala-na
Kamkshi-tardha-prada
Chandrarka-yuta-tatamka
Chidambara-shareerini
Sree chakra-vasini
Devi
Kameshva-rapati
Kamala
Murari priyardhamgi
Putra-poutra-vara-prada
Punya
Krupa-prurna
Kalyani
Anchit-ya
Tripura
Trigunam-bika
Purushardha-prada
Satya-dharma-rata
Sarva-sakshini
Shashamka-rupini
Sarasvati
Viraja
Svaha
Svadha
Pratyamgi-rambika
Aarya
Daksha-eni
Deeksha
Sarvotta-motta-ma
Shivabhi-nama-deya
Sree-vidya
Prana-vardha-svarupini
Hrinkari
Naada-rupa
Sundari
Shoda-shakshara-devata
Maha-gouri
Shyama-la
Chandi
Bhaga-malini
Bhaga-la
Matru-ka
Shulini
Amala
Anna-purna
Akhila-gama-samstut-ya
Amba
Bhanu-koti-samdya-ta
Para
Seetamshu-kruta-shekha-ra
Sarva-kala-sumangali
Soma-shekhari
Amara-samsev-ya
Amrutai-shvari
Sukha-sachi-chudara-sa
Balya-radita-bhutida
Hiranya
Sukshma
Haridra-kumkuma-radhya
Sarva-bhoga-prada
Markandeya-vara-prada
Sree-nitya-gouree-devata

www.goddessaday.com/hindu/gauri