The Temple
The Vaishno Devi Temple is an important Hindu temple dedicated to Maa Vaishno Devi, in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India. The temple located in Katra on the Trikuta Mountains is one of the 108 Shakti Peethas dedicated to Devi Durga, who is worshipped as Maa Vaishno Devi. One of the most revered pilgrimage centers in India for hindus, every year millions visit the temple called Vaishno Devi Temple, one of the richest temples in India. During festivals like Diwali, Ramnavmi and Navaratri, the number of visitors’ goes up tremendously. The temple is located at a height of 5,200 ft 12 km from Katra town on Trikuta hill. The temple is about 61 km from Jammu city.
The temple is sacred to Hindus and Sikhs, many prominent saints including Guru Gobind Singh Ji and Swami Vivekananda have visited the temple. Now managed by government appointed committee, before independence the temple was managed by the royal family of princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. There are multiple legends associated with the goddess.
Legends
As per one legend, Vaishno Devi also known as Mata Rani, Trikuta, Ambe and Vaishnavi is a manifestation of Durga or Sati and was formed by the combined energies of Kali, Lakshmi, and Saraswati. Legend goes, that in the Treta Yuga (second yuga of Hindu cosmology), when evil started to threaten earth to save herself, Bhumi the earth Goddess, went to the three gods, Bramha, Vishnu, and Shiva who expressed helpless. It is then their consorts Saraswati, Lakshmi and Parvati combined their energy to create a goddess named Vaishno Devi who was able to defeat the evil. Legend goes the three gods, Bramha, Vishnu, and Shiva asked her to stay on earth to protect it.
As per second legend, about nine hundred years ago Bhairon Nath, a famed Hindu Tantric, saw the young Vaishno Devi at an agricultural fair and fell madly in love with her. Vaishno Devi fled into Trikuta hills to escape him and later she took the form of Mahakali to cut off Bhairon Nath’s head with her sword in a cave. A Third legend says that the goddess Vaishno Devi appeared in the form of young girl and commanded a man named Shri Dhar, a brahmin from village Hansali which is next to present day Katra town to hold a feast/bhandara for locals at Bhumika stream. At the feast, Bhairon Nath, a disciple of Goraknath demanded meat and liquor. But Vaishno Devi told him he would get only vegetarian food, as it was a Brahmin’s feast. Bhairon Nath then lusted and chased her. To escape him, she ran stopping at various places now called Banganga, Charan Paduka, Adi Kumari on the trail upto Trikuta mountain; where she is said to have hid for nine months in a cave and finally at Bhavana, in the cave that is now called Vaishno Devi Temple and is known as her home. There she took form of Chamundi (a Kali incarnation), to behead Bhairon Nath.
Bhairon Nath temple is located at the place where his head landed. Bhairon Nath is said to repented, and Vaishno Devi granted him salvation by laying down condition that unless pilgrims coming to pay abeyance didn’t pay abeyance to his head their pilgrimage would not be fruitful. Vaishno Devi later transformed into 3 small rocks (pindikas) and stays there till date. The brahmin, Shri Dhar began performing puja to the pindikas at the cave, and his descendants continue to do till today. The idols of Mahalakshmi, Mahakali and Mahasaraswati are worshipped in the temple in reverence to the 3 rocks that refer to Saraswati, Lakshmi and Parvati who combined their energies together. Feet of these idols are washed daily with water brought from Banganga, a perennial river.
Another legend says just before start of Kurukshetra War, Arjuna the third pandav is said to have worshipped Devi on advice of Lord Krishna for her blessings. When goddess appeared, and blessed Arjuna, who referred to her as ‘Jambookatak Chityaishu Nityam Sannihitalaye’ that literally means ‘you who always dwell in the temple on the slope of the mountain in Jambhu’ probably referring to the present-day city of Jammu. It is said that the Pandavas were the first ones to build temples in revence to Vaishno Devi at Kol Kandoli and Bhawan on an adjacent mountain, overlooking the Holy Cave. In the temple there are five stone structures, that are believed to be the rock symbols representing the five Pandavas, namely Yudhisthir, Bheem, Arjun, Nakul, and Sahdev. Another legend says that either the skull of Sati Devi fell here or the right hand fell in this place, when Shiva was roaming around with burnt body of Sati and Vishnu cut her up into 108 pieces that fell across many paces.
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board
Sacred to followers of Hinduism, the temple also known as Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Act was brought under government control under Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Act, 1988. The state government nominates nine members of a committee called Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board that manages its day-to-day affairs. The board has setup numerous facilities for the pilgrims including guest houses like Vaishnavi Dham, Saraswati Dham, Kalika Dham, Niharika Yatri Niwas, Shakti Bhawan and Ashirwad Bhawan all along the route to help pilgrims rest comfortably.
This is because the Vaishno Devi Yatra to the temple requires an arduous trek of 13 kms plus another 1.5 kms till Bhairon Ghati. Maa Vaishno Devi Yatra goes on throughout the year, however best time for visit if you want to avoid rush is to plan any time except the festival of Navratri, Ramnavami and Diwali. During winter season in the month of December to January, Vaishno Devi Temple is covered in snow but pilgrims still flock to the shrine in hordes. Althjugh landslide pose risk during monsoon but pilgrims flock to the shrine still keeping faith in the goddess.
Reaching Vaishno Devi
Vaishno Devi temple is located in Katra which is easily accessible by air, road and rail from the rest of the country via Jammu. Jammu airport is at a distance of 52 km from Katra. Katra Railway Station lies 1.2 km away is the last stop after Jammu railway station 13 kms away. Katra is well-connected with Jammu by road which is 50 kms away. Numerous busses ply daily from Jammu to Katra helping pilgrims to reach their destination easily. In order to start the Yatra, devotees need to get themselves mandatorily registered at the Yatra registration counter. The devotees can also apply online for registration.
The 13 km Vaishno Devi trek starts from Katra. There are various ways by which devotees can reach the shrine like riding a helicopter, palki/palanquin, pony, pithoo, auto, horse. Yet many pilgrims still complete their Vaishno Devi Yatra on foot stopping at various halts en route. Further government has for benefit of pilgrims started a ropeway ride from Vaishno Devi to Bhairav Baba Mandir.
Visiting Nearby Places
Bal Ganga
Bal Ganga is a holy river that can be seen at the beginning of the Vaishno Devi yatra. It is said that Vaishno Devi stopped here to quench thirst of monkeys who accompanied her. She reportedly shot an arrow into the ground that caused water to start flowing and creating a perennial river. Legend says Vaishno Devi washed her hair in the river. So, the river is also called Bal Ganga.
Charan Paduka
Charan Paduka is a holy spot that reportedly contains the divine footprints of Vaishno Devi imprinted on a rock slab. It is located at 1.5 kms from the source of Ban Ganga at an altitude of 3380 ft.
Adkhwari/ Ardhya Kumari
Ardhya Kumari is a holy cave where Vaishno Devi is said to have hidden from Bhairon Nath for nine months. A holy spot, it is said she curled up here just like an unborn child inside a mother’s womb. As such, the cave is also referred tto as Garbhjun.
Pilgrims wanting to visit Vaishno Devi, can stay in numerous hotels in and around Jammu that provide accommodation at reasonable prices. They can also do shopping for numerous items in shops across the city. They can also enjoy themselves and spend time watching numerous historic locations around the city. A week-long visit for Jammu and Vaishno Devi is enough.
