Vaishno devi

Nestled amidst the mountains of Trikuta in the North Indian state of Jammu Kashmir, Vaishno Devi is an important holy place for the Hindus. Weather-wise March to July is the best time to visit Vaishno Devi as the rest of the year is very cold.

Located in the hill of Vaishno Devi, the Vaishno Devi temple is one of the most famous pilgrim centers in India. Dedicated to Goddess Shakti, it is the second most visited shrine in India. Goddess Shakti is fondly known as Mata Rani as well as Goddess Vaishnavi. Legend has it that Goddess Vaishnavi was born in South India to Ratnakar. As a child she was called Trikuta. When she was 9 years old she would sincerely do penance everyday on the seashore. She would pray to Lord Vishnu in the form of Lord Rama. Once, Rama along with his army took off in search of Sita when he landed on the seashore. The image of girl with a divine face deeply engrossed meditation caught his attention. On approaching her, Rama was told by Trikuta that she had accepted him as her husband. Sri Rama consoled her and told her that in this life he had promised to be faithful only to Sita. But Lord Rama vowed to her that in the future he would be reborn as Kalki and that he would marry her. In the meantime Lord Rama asked her to meditate in a cave in the mountains of Trikuta in North India and he promised her that people will sing praises for her and that she would become immortal.

The holy cave in the shrine is about 100 feet long and houses the idol of Goddess Vaishnavi. The idol is about 5.5 feet tall and has three pindis (faces) manifesting the goddess in three forms: Maha Kali, Maha Lakshmi and Maha Saraswati. It is located inside the main sanctum sanctorum and is open for all devotees. An aarti is performed in the temple twice a day: early in the morning just before sunrise and once in the evening after the sunset. The scenic beauty around the temple, the beautiful architecture and the constant chant of 'Jai mata di' makes your experience truly divine.

The Vaishnodevi temple can be approached from Katra, which is about 50 kilometers from Jammu. Pilgrims trek their way up from Katra to the temple. It is a 13 kilometer trek up the mountain. One can also ride on ponies to reach the shrine.

The first legend says that about one thousand years ago in an ancient village called Hansal (or Hansalli) there lived a Brahmin priest named Shridhar who was a staunch devotee of Mata Vaishno Devi. Shridhar was childless and used to regularly perform "Kanya Puja" or worship of little girls. One day while performing "Kanya Puja" as usual, a divinely beautiful girl appeared and sat on one end of the line of young girls. Pandit Shridhar was struck by the celestial beauty of the little girl in her vermilion robes. Shridhar washed Her feet also and performed the puja.

Impressed by the girl's divinity, Shridhar decided to hold the community feast and invited the whole village. He then came upon the powerful tantrik Guru Gorakh Nath and invited him also along with all his followers including Bhairon Nath. The next day Shridhar went outside his hut and saw the whole village gathered there for the community feast. Wondering how so many people would fit inside his small hut. One by one the villagers went in and lo and behold there was space for each one of them inside the small hut with a small space left over.

Shridhar was worried about how to feed them all when Vaishnavi appeared again in the form of the young girl. She carried a pot and told Shridhar to seat the villagers in line. The young girl went down the line serving the villagers from her divine pot. To everyone's surprise and Shridhar's great joy, from the same pot she served each person with the food of their respective choice and liking. Guru Gorakh Nath and Bhairon Nath were amazed and decided to test her. 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.

Bhairon, losing all good sense and throwing caution to the winds, pursued her. During her flight, the Goddess halted at a few places. 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 15foot long cave where the Goddess rested for nine long months as a baby rests in its mother's womb which is why this cave is also known as the 'Garbh Joon' (the womb). Bhairon pursued her there too and this time Vaishnavi became so furious with Bhairon's pursuit that she assumed the form of Maha Kali and beheaded him just outside the cave. Upon death, Bhairon realized his grave mistake and begged the Goddess to forgive him so that the world will not remember him as the wicked one. The Goddess had mercy on Bhairon and blessed him that there shall be a temple at the place where his head fell and every devotee to Her temple must also pray at his temple and only then will a devotee's 'yatra' or pilgrimage be complete. It is said that the boulder at the mouth of the cave is the petrified torso of Bhairon Nath.