Jyeshta Gauri Temple
Jyeshta Gauri Temple
Today is Jyesta Gauri Pooja/Vrata
Jyeshta Gauri temple is located at Sapt Sagar Mohalla near Maidagin- Varanasi.
Jyestha Gauri is referred as Goddess Mahalakshmi in some house holds of India.
It is believed that if a girl, who may be most unfortunate, visits the Jyeshta Gauri Temple and prays with sincerity, she becomes most fortunate (Sowbhagyavati). It is stated that persons visiting Kashi and having darshan of Jyeshta Gauri will reach a high position in life.Jyeshta Gauri temple is one of the Nine Gauri temples in Varanasi.
Significance of Jyeshtha Gauri Puja
Jyeshta Gauri Puja is the most popular Vrat which is observed in the month of Bhadrapada in the state of Maharashtra and North Karnataka. It falls during the Jyestha nakshatra which is today and hence known as Jyeshta Gauri Vrata. Goddess Gauri or Gowri is another name for Goddess Parvati. Three days Vrata Puja is performed by married women. Haldi-Kumkum ceremony is an important event of the day.
Jyeshta Gauri Vrat and fast is kept by the women to get blessings from Goddess Shakti, the ultimate power of the Universe. They believe that worshiping Goddess Gouri will fill their married life with happiness and remove all their upheavals. Unmarried girls worship Devi Parvati on this day to get appropriate life-partner. Goddess Parvati is a consort of Lord Shiva. She fulfils the wishes of devotees.
Legend
Gauri Puja is also known as Upasana of Goddess Lakshmi in some regions. As per the legend, once the Deities were being harassed by the demons. Deities prayed to Goddess Sri Mahalakshmi. Appeased by the prayers, Sri Mahalakshmi vanquished the demons on the day of Ashtami, which is the eighth day of Bhadrapad month i.e today. She relieved the deities from the clutches of demons. In the memory of this incident and for the protection of their husbands by Sri Mahalakshmi, the women perform the Vrat of Jyeshta Gauri on the day of Shukla Ashtami of Bhadrapad.
Idol of Gauri is installed on the Mul constellation that comes after Rushipanchami. This Vrat is observed for three days.
The first day of the puja is known as Jyeshta Gauri Avahan or Sthapana, the second day as Jyeshta Gowri puja, and the third day is referred to as Jyeshta Gouri Udwasan or Visarjan.
Jyeshta Gauri Vrat katha is associated with the demolition of a demon in the hands of the Goddess. The story is recited during the puja. On the third day, Jyeshta Gauri idol is immersed in water bodies.
