Mata Vaishno devi Temple is one of the oldest shrines of India dedicated to the Hindu Mythological Goddess ‘Shakti’. It is the holiest of all the ‘Shakti Peeths’ - places of worship dedicated to Goddess Shakti. Vaishno Devi, also known as Mata Rani and Vaishnavi, is a manifestation of the Mother Goddess.
The holy cave of Maa Vaishno Devi is located at a height of 5300 feet on the holy Trikuta Hills of the Shivalik Hill Range. This famous shrine is located in the state of Jammu and Kashmir and 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 pilgrims have to undertake a trek of nearly 12 km from the base camp at Katra to reach the shrine. Millions of pilgrims visit the temple every year and Vaishno devi temple is the second most visited religious shrine in India, after Tirumala Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati.
The deity of Vaishno Devi is represented in the form of a five and half feet tall rock structure and three Pindies or heads that emanate from one single rock form. The extreme left Pindi has been worshiped as Mata Maha Saraswati (The goddess of supreme energy of Creation). Mata Saraswati represents the Satva Guna. Satva means wisdom and knowledge. The second Pindi has been worshiped a Mata Maha Lakshmi. She is the supreme energy of Maintenance and represents Raja Guna. Raj means prosperity. The third Pindi has been worshiped a Mata Maha Kali (The goddess of supreme energy of Disolution) and represents Tama Guna. The Tama represents the darkness or unknown.
Mata Vaishno Devi Legends
According to legends in an ancient village called Hansal (or Hansalli) there lived a Brahmin priest named Shridhar who was a ardent devotee of Mata Vaishno Devi. Mata Rani appeared in front of him in the form of a young girl and asked the humble Pandit to hold a 'Bhandara' (feast). Shridhar told her that he was very poor and could not afford to feed the whole village. But the girl told him not to worry about that and then she disappeared. Shridhar finally decided to hold the community feast and invited the whole village. He also invited Guru Gorakh Nath and his disciple 'Bhairav Nath'. Bhairav Nath asked Shri-Dhar how he was planning to fulfill the requirements. Shridhar then related the entire event of the Divine Girl and Guru Gorakh Nath, curious about it, accepted the invitation.
The next day the whole village gathered there for the community feast. True to goddess word the Bhandara went smoothly with food and place to spare. The goddess in the form of young girl served food to the villagers. She eventually came to Bhairon Nath. Bhairon Nath asked Vaishnavi to serve him meat and wine. But Vaishnavi refused and said that only vegetarian food would be served. Then Bhairon Nath tried to grab Vaishnavi's hand but Vaishnavi managed to elude Bhairon and fled to the mountains.
During her flight, the Goddess halted at a few places. At Banganga She felt thirsty and shot an arrow into the earth from where water gushed out. At Charan Paduka She rested for a while and a rock here bears the imprint of her holy feet. Hence the name Charan Paduka. She then came to Adhkuweri which is a 15 foot long cave where the Goddess rested for nine long months. This cave is also known as the 'Garbh Joon'. When Vaishno Devi saw Bhairon nath nearing the cave she with one blow opened the other side of the cave and escaped to the cave in the Trikuta Hills. Bhairon pursued her there too. Furious the goddess assumed the form of Maha Kali here and beheaded Bhairon nath with such supreme force that his skull fell at a place known as Bhairav Ghati, 2.5 km away on a distant hilltop from the holy cave shrine.
Today the place is known as Bhairon nath temple. Before dying Bhairav Nath pleaded for forgiveness of his sins. She not only freed him from the cycle of reincarnation but also blessed him that there shall be a temple at the place where his head fell and granted him a boon that the pilgrimage Vaishno devi on the Trikuta hill will not be complete unless and until the devotee does not pay homage at the Bhairon nath temple.
Meanwhile Pandit Shridhar was saddened by all this and fasted for many days. Then the Goddess appeared to Shridhar in a dream. Mata Vaishno Devi granted Pandit Shridhar a boon of four sons and showed him Her Shrine in the Holy Cave. Shridhar set out in search of the cave and after finding it he decided to spend the rest of his life at the foot of this cave in worship of the deity. Since then Shridhar and his descendants have been worshiping the Goddess Vaishno Devi.
Every year thousands of pilgrims visit Vaishno devi temple. All pilgrims are required to get passes at Katra for the yatra. The pilgrimage entails a 13.5 km trek from Katra, which in turn is 50 km from Jammu. One can undertake this trek on foot or on horses/ponies or on palanquins. Katra is the base camp for the Yatra to the Holy Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji. This is the last point until which any type of modern transport can go. Recently started Helicopter service has started here which takes the pilgrims till Sanjichhat which is just a couple of kilometres from the Holy Shrine.
How to reach Vaishno Devi Temple
Nearest railway station is also Jammu which is well connected to all major cities in India. The nearest airport is Jammu airport, which is at a distance of 50 km from Katra. Jammu is well connected with many major cities in the country. Several Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation buses are available from Jammu to Katra at regular intervals. Regular private deluxe bus services are also available from Jammu to Katra.