Vaishno Devi

Vaishno Devi
Vaishno Devi
Religion
Affiliation	Hinduism
Location
Location	Vaishno Devi, Jammu and Kashmir
Architecture
Creator	unknown

Vaishno Devi Mandir is one of the holiest Hindu temples dedicated to Shakti, located in the hill of Vaishno Devi, Jammu and Kashmir, India. In Hinduism, Vaishno Devi, also known as Mata Rani and Vaishnavi, is a manifestation of the Mother Goddess.

Located near the town of Katra, in Udhampur district in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, the Vaishno Devi temple is one of the most revered places of worship in northern India. At an altitude of 5200 feet and a distance of approximately 12 kilometers (7.45 miles) from Katra, the shrine of Vaishno Devi is frequented every year by millions of pilgrims, making it the second most visited religious shrine in India, after Tirupati Balaji Mandir. The Shrine is maintained by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. A rail link from Udhampur to Katra is being built to facilitate pilgrimage.

Legend

Vaishno Devi Bhawan.

According to Hindu mythology, Bhairon Nath, a selfish demon, chased a young girl, named Vaishno Devi, whom he believed was an incarnation of the Mother Goddess. While running away from Bhairon, Devi shot an arrow into the Earth from which water gushed out. The resultant river is known as Banganga. It is believed that by taking a bath in Banganga (Ban: Arrow), a believer of the Mother Goddess can wash away all his sins. The banks of the river, known as Charan Paduka, are marked by Devi's foot imprints, which remains intact till date. Vaishno Devi then took shelter in a cave known as Garbh Joon near Adhkawari where she meditated for 9 months attaining spiritual wisdom and powers. Her meditation was cut short when Bhairon located her. Vaishno Devi was then compelled to take the form of Maha Kali when Bhairon tried to kill her. The manifestation of the Mother Goddess took place at the mouth of the Holy cave at Darbar. The Goddess then beheaded Bhairon with such sheer force, that his skull fell at a place known as Bhairon Ghati, 2.5 km from the Holy Cave.

In his dying moments, Bhairon pleaded for forgiveness. The Goddess knew that Bhairon's main intention in attacking her was to achieve salvation. She not only granted Bhairon liberation from the cycle of reincarnation, but also granted him a boon, whereby every devotee, in order to ensure completion of the pilgrimage, had to visit Bhairon Nath's temple near the Holy cave. Meanwhile Vaishno Devi assumed the shape of a rock with three pindis (heads) and immersed herself into meditation forever.

Access

The nearest airport from Katra is in Jammu City, 48 kilometers (29.82 miles) away. The nearest railway station is at Udhampur, 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) away. Railway Extension to Katra proper is expected to be operational by 2007.

From Katra, devotees have multiple options to reach the main temple. The quickest way is to take the helicopter ride, which will take 15-20 minutes to reach the summit. However, this may not be operational on certain days depending on weather conditions. Other options include walking up or taking a horse ride. The climb is steep and tiring but there are multiple rest stations along the way and options to buy refreshments. For those with disabilities, there is an option to take a 'Palkhi' where 4-5 men will carry a person in a carriage. For young children, one can hire a person who will carry them and also carry the bags.

Extra clothes are required there, as every devotee is expected to bathe and change before going to the main temple for darshan. Security is very tight so one should make sure there is nothing of concern on his or her person.

External links

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