Navaratri Nava Gauri Yatra in Varanasi

Kashi has many Yatras. I have already written about the Nava Durga Yatra in Kashi that is done during the Navaratas in Kashi. Nava Gauri Yatra is another Devi Yatra in Varanasi that takes you through nine Gauri temples across the city.

This yatra is also prescribed in the Kashi Khand of Skanda Puran’s 100th Chapter. Some of Devis are also mentioned in detail in other chapters.

What is Nava Gauri Yatra?

Nava Gauri Yatra is a yatra through nine different Gauri temples in Varanasi. These are nine different manifestations of Shakti as Gauri.

All these temples are small, sometimes a part of a bigger temple. Each of them is ancient in its essence even if it is not in its original place. For some the place itself becomes the representation of Devi as we will see.

A board at the first Gauri temple tells the names and locations of all the temples. The order to visit the temples is also the same.

When to do Nava Gauri Yatra in Kashi?

It is recommended to be done Shukla Tritiya or the third day of the bright fortnight. This means you can do this Yatra 12 times in a year for the best benefits of it.

This is also done on the nine days of the Vasanta or Chaitra Navaratri that falls in Mar/Apr.

Nine Gauri Temples of Varanasi

1. Mukhnirmalika or Sukhnirvanika Gauri

Gai Ghat Hanuman Temple Premises

This is the first Gauri to be visited. The name mentioned in Skanda Puran is Sukh Nirwanika Devi, but today in Kashi she is better known as Mukh Nirmalika Devi.

It is recommended that you take bath in Gopreksha Tirtha and then visit Mukhnirmalika Gauri. This Tirtha is located within Ganga at Gai Ghat, so essentially you take a dip in Ganga at Gai Ghat.

Her annual festival is celebrated on Chaitra Purnima that falls in March/April. She is also visited on the first day of Chaitra Navaratri.

It is a small temple that you can easily approach from Gau Ghat. The temple also has lot of other temples within it. It is more popularly known for the Dakshinamukhi Hanuman temple. There are also Saptamatrikas and Sheetala Mata in the temple complex.

I visited it early morning when the morning Arti was going. There was no one else in the temple. It was like having the mother all to myself.

2. Jyeshtha Gauri

Maidagin, near Kashi Devi Temple

Special Day – Jyeshtha Shukla Ashtami or the 8^th day of bright fortnight of Jyeshtha month that falls in May/June. She is also worshipped during…