Vaishnao Devi, Hindu Pilgrimage in India
Location:
Situated at an altitude
of 5200 ft above
sea level in the
state of Jammu &
Kashmir. The Vaishno
Devi shrine is nestled
in the Trikuta Mountain.
It about 650 km
from Delhi, the
capital of India.
Climate : High altitude temperature - Cold
Best time to Visit: Throughout the year except during winter Yatra Season: March-April And September-October
Significance: Major Hindu Pilgrimage Center, One of the most Religious & Hindu Pilgrimage destination in India.
Climate : High altitude temperature - Cold
Best time to Visit: Throughout the year except during winter Yatra Season: March-April And September-October
Significance: Major Hindu Pilgrimage Center, One of the most Religious & Hindu Pilgrimage destination in India.
Shri Maa
Vaishno Devi Shrine
is one of the oldest
shrine of India,
located at a height
of 5300 feet on
the holy Trikuta
Hills of the Shivalik
Hill Range. The
Holy cave is 13
Kms from the Base
Camp Katra. The
Town Katra is 50
Kms away from Jammu
and 35 Kms from
District HQ Udhampur
and is linked by
road. The Mata Vaishno
Devi Shrine is one
of the most popular
Shrines of India.
The
Vaishno Devi temple
is recognized as
one of the "Shakti
Peeths" of
goddess ' Durga'.
People who visit
the shrine constitute
a heterogeneous
profile comprising
of wealthy &
poor, aged &
young, males &
females from within
and outside the
country. The Shrine
of goddess 'Vaishno
Devi' is reached
by an arduous climb.
.
The
scenic beauty, the
landscape around
and the constant
chanting of 'Jai
Mata Di',
leaves a mystic
effect on the devotees.
At the culmination
of their pilgrimage
the devotees are
blessed with the
'Darshans' of the
deity in her three
manifestations as
three Pindies, located
inside the sanctum-
sanatorium
The Legend
About Mata Vaishno Devi
During
the time when the
Goddesses were wreaking
havoc on the evil
Asuras, the 3 main
manifestations,
Mahakali, Mahalakshmi
and Mahasaraswati,
pooled their collective
strength and sent
a divine child to
be born in the house
of one Ratnakar.
She was to uphold
righteousness and
attain a level of
consciousness by
which she would
merge with Vishnu.
An
extraordinary child,
she went deep into
the forest, in search
of god. Intrigued
by reports of her
piety, Gorakhnath
the Mahayogi sent
his disciple Bhairon
Nath to look for
her. But he began
invading her privacy
and even suggested
that she become
his wife. To escape
him, Vaisnavi left
Trikuta mountains.
While
passing through
a ravine she shot
an arrow into the
earth from where
water gushed out
-- this stream came
to be known as Banaganga.
Charan Paduka, marked
by the imprints
of her feet, is
the place where
she rested. The
Goddess then meditated
in the cave at Adhkawari.
It took Bhairon
Nath nine months
to locate her, the
reason why the cave
is known as Garbh
Joon. Mata Vaishno
Devi blasted an
opening at the other
end of the cave
with Her Trident
when Bhairon Nath
located her.
On
arriving at the
Holy Cave at Darbar,
she assumed the
form of Maha Kali
and cut off Bhairon
Nath's head which
was flung up the
mountain by the
force of the blow
and fell at the
place where the
Bhairon Temple is
now located. The
boulder at the mouth
of the Holy Cave
according to the
legend is the petrified
torso of Bhairon
Nath who was granted
divine forgiveness
by the benevolent
Mata in his dying
moments.
Other Pilgrimage Attractions and Temples in Vaishno Devi
Bhumika Temple
At
Darshani Darwaza,
1-km from Katra,
the Goddess disappeared.
This place is called
Darsani Darwaza
because the Trikut
mountain is visible
from here Tikuta
Parvat is three
high peaks that
are the abodes of
the Goddess durga.
Ban Ganga Temple
After the Goddess
left the Bhumika
Temple, she went
to the Trikuta Hills
passing through
here. At this time,
Langoor Vir (Veer
Langur) felt thirsty.
The Goddess shot
an arrow into the
stone and a holy
river was produced,
now known as Ban
Ganga. It is called
Ban Ganga because
the Goddess washed
her hair at this
place. Most pilgrims
take bath here.
You must show the
slip you got near
the Bus Stand in
Katra to pass this
point. Ban Ganga
is about 3-km from
Katra.
Charan Paduka Temple
This
is where the Goddess
stopped for some
time while Bhairon
was chasing her.
Her footprints are
supposed to be visible
on a stone at this
place. Charanpaduka
means ” holy
footprints.”
It is about 1.5-km
from Ban Ganga at
3,380 feet.
Ardh Kuwari
Ardh Kuwari is the
halfway point and
some pilgrims stay
here for the night.
There is a 15-foot-long
cave called Garbha
Joon where the Goddess
hid herself for
nine months and
showed her self
to a saint. The
cave is narrow,
and you have to
almost crawl all
the way though it.
When Bhairon entered
the cave, the Goddess
made a new opening
with her trident
and ran away. Ardh
Kuwari is 4.5-km
from Charan Paduka
and 4,800 ft above
sea level.
After ardh Kuwari the path gets very steep for 2.5-km. This ascent is called Hathi Matha ascent, because the mountain is shaped like the forehead of an Elephant. It is best to use the footpath rather than the stairs, as the climb will be easier. From here it is another 1,500-ft climb to Sanjhi Chatt, and from there another 4-km to the carve.
After ardh Kuwari the path gets very steep for 2.5-km. This ascent is called Hathi Matha ascent, because the mountain is shaped like the forehead of an Elephant. It is best to use the footpath rather than the stairs, as the climb will be easier. From here it is another 1,500-ft climb to Sanjhi Chatt, and from there another 4-km to the carve.
Sri Ram Temple
The Sri Ram Temple
is near main cave.
There is a Shiva-linga
in a cave 125 steps
down from the Ram
Temple. Bhairon
(Bhairav) Temple
This temple is about
2.5-km from main
cave at about 6,700
feet. It is traditional
to visit Bhairon
temple after visiting
the Maata Bhawan.
Bhairon (Bhairav)
was absolved of
all sins when Durga
killed him.
When Bhairon was killed by the Goddess his head flew to this place. There is a huge stone outside the cave that represents the body of Bhairon. After he was killed, her prayed to the Goddess to forgive him. It is said that the Goddess gave the benediction that the desires of her devotees who visit this place would be fulfilled.
When Bhairon was killed by the Goddess his head flew to this place. There is a huge stone outside the cave that represents the body of Bhairon. After he was killed, her prayed to the Goddess to forgive him. It is said that the Goddess gave the benediction that the desires of her devotees who visit this place would be fulfilled.
How to Reach Vaishno Devi
The sacred shrine
lies 61 km north
of Jammu in the
northern state of
Jammu and Kashmir.
Vaishno Devi cave
is in the lower
Himalayas. Katra,
the town at the
foot of the Trikuta
hills is the base
camp for the Vaishno
Devi shrine. Vaishno
Devi is located
14 km from the town
of Katra and 52
km north of Jammu.
Katra is situated
at 2,800 feet
•
Air: The
nearest airport
is in Jammu, which
is 48 km from Katra.
There is a helicopter
service that departs
from the airport
at Sanjhi Chat in
Jammu in the morning.
•
Rail:
The nearest
train station for
pilgrims is Jammu
•
Road:
By road Rishikesh
to Haridwar 24 kms,
Dehradun 47 kms,
Mussoorie 77 kms,
Badrinath 301 kms
(Son Prayag), Kedarnath
228 kms, Gangotri
258 kms, Yamunotri
288 kms (Hanuman
Chatti), Srinagar
105 kms, Joshimath
252 kms