Vaishno Devi

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IntroductionThe holy shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi which is situated in the folds of might ‘Tirkuta’ Hills' attracts Lakhs of devotees since ages owing to the unflinching faith of the people who throng the Shrine from all parts of India and  form abroad. The Vaishno Devi temple, which is also recognized as one of the “Shakti Peeths” of goddess ‘ Durga’, is situated at a distance of 61 Kms from Jammu, which is the winter capital of J&K state. The devotees (popularlyknown as 'Yatries' traverse part of the distance i.e. 13 Km. on foot. The on-foot yatra starts from the base town of Katra, which is at a height of 1700 ft. from the sea level. 

The holy cave of goddess Vaishno Devi is situated at an altitude of 5200 ft. Thus by traveling on foot a distance of 13 Kms, a yatri covers a vertical height of about 3500 ft. People who visit the shrine constitute a heterogeneous profile comprising of wealthy & poor, aged & young, males & females from within and outside the country. At the culmination of their pilgrimage the yatries are blessed with the ‘Darshans’ of the deity in her three manifestations as three Pindies, located inside the sanctum– sanatorium, open for the yatries through out the year in all seasons. In the last two decades especially after 1986 when the management of this Shrine was entrusted to an autonomous Board viz. Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, the influx of yatra has experienced a steady rise. This is owing to the fact that the Board, Which is pro-yatries, has carried out massive developmental & procedural improvements for the smooth conduct of yatra. The emphasis of the Board has always been on pumping-back its incomes for further improvement of facilities for the yatries as also to fulfill the other social commitments to help the weaker sections of the society. As of date the Shrine Board has created a massive infrastructure including  pedestrian track, electrification, accommodation, toilets, blankets stores, cloak rooms etc and many of its vital projects are in the offing / conception.. Out of the millions of devotees who throng the place, a large number of yatri are repeaters who visit   place every year. The Shrine of goddess ‘Vaishno Devi’ is reached by an arduous climb. The efforts a pilgrim puts in to traverse this distance kindles in him a sense of mission. The scenic beauty, the landscape around and the constant chanting of ‘Jai Mata Di’, leaves a mystic effect on the yatries, making complete transformation of one’s body and soul. The devotee's mind is freed from all kinds of pride and ego, and he is completely lost in a reverie of gratitude to the divine. 

It is spiritually uplifting experience to witness the faith of the yatries, who are motivated to the heart by three words being chanted since the ages…….  

The Story of Mata Vaishno Devi Ji

‘Vaishnavi’ means the one who is related to lord "Vishnu’’. Goddess Vaishnavi is the manifestation of the collective spiritual strengths of Mata Maha Kali, Mata Maha Lakshmi and Mata Maha Saraswati. It is described in Durga sapatshati that the goddess was born as a young girl of extraordinary beauty and strength, out of the collectively pooled 'Tejas' of various 'Devtas' and three lords Brahma, Vishnu and Shankar. The immediate purpose of the creation of the goddess was the annihilation of Asura (devil) Mahishasura. However another purpose of her creation was that she might usher on earth an era of pious and ascetic life so that the peace could prevail upon the world and she through her penance could rise to higher levels of spirituality and ultimately merge with Vishnu. 

The ‘Goddess having been created by the Devtas and the three lords ordained the human form in the house of one Ratnakar as his daughter whom the family named as Vaishnavi. The girl right from her childhood displayed a hunger for knowledge which was like a vortex and which no amount of teaching and learning could sufficiently satiate. Subsequently, Vaishnavi started looking into her inner self for knowledge and soon learned the art of meditation and realized that meditation and penance only could bring her close to her greater objective. Vaishnavi thus relinquished all household comforts and went deep into the forest for Tapasaya (meditation).  Meanwhile, Lord Rama, during his fourteen years of exile happened to visit Vaishnavi who recognized him immediately as no ordinary being but the incarnation of Lord Vishnu and immediately asked him to merge her into himself so that she could become one with the supreme creator. However Lord Rama, knowing that it was not the appropriate time, dissuaded her by saying that he will visit her again after the end of his exile and at that time if she succeeded in recognizing him, he will fulfill her wish. True to his words, Rama visited her again after being victorious in the battle, but this time he did so in the guise of an old man. Unfortunately, Vaishnavi was unable to recognize him this time and was distraught. Upon this, Lord Rama consoled her that the appropriate time for her being one with the creator had not come and he will eventually do so in ‘Kaliyug’ in his incarnation of ‘Kalki’.  Rama also directed her to meditate and set up an Ashram at the base of Trikuta hills to elevate her level of spirituality so as to bless the mankind and rid the poor and destitute of their sufferings and only then will ‘Vishnu’ merge her into himself. 

Vaishnavi, after immense hardships reached the foot of the Trikuta Hills and after setting up her ashram there she began to meditate. As predicted by Lord Rama, her glory spread far and wide and people began to flock to her Ashram to seek her blessings. As the time passed, a Tantrik named Gorakh Nath who had a vision of the episode between Lord Rama and Vaishnavi in the retrospective time frame, became curious to find out whether Vaishnavi has been able to attain a high level of spirituality or not. He, therefore, sent his most able disciple ‘Bhairon Nath’ to find out the truth. Bhairon Nath on locating the ashram started observing Vaishnavi secretly and realised that though a ‘Sadhvi’ she always carried bow and arrows with her and was always surrounded by langoors (apes) and a ferocious looking lion. Bhairon Nath was enamored by Vaishnavi’s extraordinary beauty and losing all good sense he began to pester Vaishnavi to marry him. Meanwhile a staunch devotee of Mata Sridhar organised a Bhandara (Community meal) in which the whole village and Guru Gorakh Nath along with all his followers including Bhairon were invited. During the course of Bhandara Bhairon Nath attempted to grab Vaishnavi but she tried her best to daunt him. On failing to do so, Vaishnavi decided to flee away into the mountains to continue her ‘Tapasaya’ undisturbed. Bhairon Nath however chased her to her destination. The goddess after halting at Banganga, Charan Paduka, and Adhkwari, finally reached the holy cave Shrine. When Bhairon Nath continued to follow her despite the goddess trying to avoid a confrontation, the goddess was compelled to kill him. Bhairon Nath met his ultimate fate when the goddess, just outside the mouth of the cave, beheaded him. The severed head of Bhairon fell with a force at a distant hilltop. Bhairon Nath upon death realised the futility of his mission and prayed to the deity to forgive him. The almighty 'Mata' had mercy on Bhairon and gave him a boon that every devotee of the goddess shall have to have the Darshans of Bhairon after having the Darshans of the goddess and only then shall the yatra of a devotee be complete. Meanwhile, Vaishnavi decided to shed off her human form and assuming the face of a rock she immersed her self into meditation forever. 

Thus Vaishnavi, in the form of a five and a half feet tall rock with three heads or the ‘Pindies’ on the top is the ultimate destination of a devotee. These Pindies constitute the Sanctum Sanctorum of the holy cave known as the shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji, which is revered by one and all.

The Vaishno Devi Temple is considered to be one of the holiest Hindu Temples In the country. Devoted to Shakti, the mandir is located in the hills of Vaishno Devi, in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, in Northern India. In the Hindu sect, Vaishno Devi is also popularly known as Mata Rani and Vaishnavi, and is a manifestation of the Mother Goddess. Million of pilgrims throng the temple year after year. Vaishno Devi Temple happens to be the second most visited religious shrine in the country, right after the Tirupati Balaji Mandir. The shrine is maintained by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. Infact, there is a rail link from Udhampur to Katra which is being built in order to facilitate the frequent travel of the pilgrims.

The Vaishnodevi temple is located at a distance of about 61 kms from Jammu, yet the aura the goddess and the faith of the devotees can be conspicuously felt at Jammu. There are signposts carrying images of the goddess along with slogans of ‘Jai Mata Di’ (which means Hail, Holy Mother) are put up all over the city. During the Navratra period which falls between March to April and September to October, it is an amazing experience to hear all the greetings of the thousands of pilgrims on the yatra chanting ‘Jai Mata Di’ together in chorus, on their way up to the shrine. The Mandir is reachable only after 13 km trek which starts from Katra. Over the years, the path has been developed and facilities like drinking water, snackbars, medical aid, food and accommodation are all provided along the whole route. The town of Katra bazaars are always colourful as shops overflow with offerings (bhaint) for the goddess. Coconut, mauli (sacred thread), red chunni (headscarf) with gold/silver trimmings, dryfruit, bangles, incense and vermilion powder are a must. Mehndi (henna), supari (arecanut) and chattar (holy umbrella) are the other offerings.

Location

Mata's cave shrine is nestled in the mighty Trikuta mountain 61 kilometres north of Jammu at a height of 5,200 feet above the sea level in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, India.