Vaishno Devi Temple Pilgrimage

Ma Vaishno Devi  a most revered Temple in North India which is visited by thousand so devotees everyday and it is like our Tirupathi temple for the North Indians.  We always believe that Unless Lord Balaji desires to see us, however much you try you cannot go to Tirupati, the North Indians also believe that The Call of Maa is essential to visit her which is called  Maan Aap Bulandi - which means that The Mother Herself Calls!  What a divine experience you have when you are in this cave temple.

As you read through the History given below you will understand that Vaishno Devi Maata is an manifestation of Maa Kali, Lakshmi and Saraswathy who was sent to the earth to give blessings to the human beings before she gets united with Maha Vishnu.  

The temple which is called Bhawan is located on Trikuta Mountain and Katra is the town which is at the foothills of this mountain.  The Trikuta Mountain is a single mountain but has 3 peaks and hence the name Trikuta.   Same way the Vaishno Devi Ma is seen as natural rock formation with a single base from which there are 3 heads at the top.  These are heads are called Holy Pindies.  The entire rock body is immersed in water, and a marble platform has now been constructed all around. The main Darshans remain to be of the three heads called the Holy Pindies. The uniqueness of the Holy Pindies is that although they emanate from one single rock form, each one is distinctly different from the other two in colour and texture.

From Katra to Bhawan which is the Temple complex the distance is 13.5 kms.  The various means of reaching the temple are

1.  By walk or horse or Palki from Katra all way to the temple.  You will also find that there are porters with strollers available who use the strollers (!!!) to take  the babies up the pathway or carry your luggage.

2.  By Helicopter upto Sanji chhat  which cover 9.5 kms and rest from the helipad to temple either by walk, or horse or Palki

Dharshan

The holy bhawan houses the Sanctum sanctorum.   Like Tirupati it has a huge Queue Complex.  For those travelling by Helicopter they get a VIP pass and can enter through gate no. 5 which joins the general queue near the place where the coconut prasad is handed over to the temple authorities to get the token.   The pilgrims are thoroughly checked as no one is allowed to carry any electronic items, food, water etc inside.  Only small purses and wallets (that too not made of leather) are allowed inside.  Of course there are free lockers outside the gates to keep the belongings safe.   The queue moves through stair cases to reach the   original Holy cave entrance.   As this is too narrow and takes a lot of time for the pilgrims to crawl through, new entrances have been made little higher. 

Passing the original cave entrance, the pilgrims climb flight of stairs to come out into the open mountain where there are  2 entrances into the sanctum sanctorum.  One is for entry and this is a a totally a tiled entrance which makes it easier for the pilgrims to proceed towards the sanctum sanctorum.

There is a marble platform where Maa has revealed herself in the form of pindis or natural stones.  There are 3 pindis - Maha Kali, Maha Lakshmi and Maha Saraswati.   The priest sits in front of the pindis and takes our prasad and offers to the Goddess and then returns the packets back to us with some flowers too.   

The whole place vibrates with such energy that you forget the whole world and it is as if only you and the Maa exists.   Unlike Tirupati they dont rush you up so fast, but allow you to look at Maa to your heart content and pray too (of course not TOO long but, probabaly extra few seconds or a minute)  

The 3 pindis represent Kali, Lakshmi and Saraswathy.  Towards the right is the Holy Pindi of Mata Maha Kali in the colour associated with Her i.e. black.  In the center is the Holy Pindi of Mata Maha Lakshmi with a yellowish-red tinge,  The Pindi to theextreme left is worshipped as the Holy Pindi of Mata Maha Saraswati  and is supposed to have  a whitish tinge when looked at attentively.  ( not that you notice all these when you have the darshan as standing at that place itself is overwhelming and you literally dont know where and what to look and observe.  You are too busy praying!!!)

Just outside the exit tunnel, towards the left hand side of the Cave is the Amrit Kund. This comprises the water taps through which flows the water of the Charan Ganga, the sacred water flowing from the feet of Mata.  

In fact I was feeling so thirsty and exhausted that from the Policeman who had filled a full bottle from Charan Ganga, I got a full glass of water and drank it at once to quench my thirst.  Honestly at that time, I didn't even realize that the water is flowing from the feet of Mata Vaishno Devi.  

The yatra is not complete without going to the Bairon Mandir.   There is a ropeway car available to go this temple. which starts from the Bhawan and ends at Bhairon Mandir.  Of course there is heavy rush to use the ropeway.  The other ways of going up to he Bairon Mandir is by walk, Horse and Palki.   

Planning for the yatra

Now a days you need to obtain the Yatra permit to visit the Holy shrine.  So you can visit the online official website given below which gives all the information.

              Visit on official website (www.maavaishnodevi.org)

Legend

As per the legend, during the period when the Goddess was busy in annihilating the Asuras, Her three main manifestations viz. Mata Maha Kali, Mata Maha Lakshmi and Mata Maha Saraswati got together one day and pooled their collective Tejas or spiritual strength. A stunningly bright light emanated from the place where the Tejas of the three manifestations coalesced and a beautiful young girl emerged out of this Tejas. The young girl asked them, "Why have I been created?'' The Devis explained to her that they had created her so that she would live on earth and spend her time in upholding righteousness.

 

The Devis added, "Now, go and take birth in the house of Ratankar and his wife who reside in the southern part of India, and who are great devotees of ours. Live on earth. Uphold righteousness and evolve yourself spiritually so that you reach higher levels of consciousness. Once you have attained the appropriate level of consciousness you will merge into Vishnu and become one with him.'' So saying they blessed the girl. Sometimes later a very beautiful girl child was born to Ratankar and his wife. The couple named the child Vaishnavi. The girl right from her childhood displayed a hunger for knowledge which was like a vortex and which no amount of teaching and learning could sufficiently satiate. Subsequently, Vaishnavi started looking into her inner self for knowledge, and soon learned the art of meditation and realized that meditation and penance only could bring her close to her greater objective. Vaishnavi thus relinquished all household comforts and went deep into the forest for Tapasaya (meditation). Meanwhile, Lord Rama, during his fourteen years of exile happened to visit Vaishnavi who recognized him immediately as no ordinary being but the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, and immediately asked him to merge her into himself so that she could become one with the supreme creator.

 

However Lord Rama, knowing that it was not the appropriate time, dissuaded her by saying that he would visit her again after the end of his exile, and at that time if she succeeded in recognizing him, he would fulfill her wish. True to his words, Rama visited her again after being victorious in the battle, but this time he did so in the disguise of an old man. Unfortunately, Vaishnavi was unable to recognize him this time and was distraught. Upon this, Lord Rama consoled her that the appropriate time for her being one with the creator had not come, and that time would come eventually in 'Kaliyug' when He (Rama) would be in his incarnation of 'Kalki'. Rama also directed her to meditate, and set up an Ashram at the base of Trikuta hills, to elevate her level of spirituality so as to bless mankind and rid the poor and destitute of their sufferings.  Only then would 'Vishnu' merge her into himself. Vaishnavi, immediately set off for the northern part and after immense hardships, reached the foot of the Trikuta Hills. After reaching there she set up her ashram there and began to meditate.

 

As predicted by Lord Rama, her glory spread far and wide, and people began to flock to her Ashram to seek her blessings. As time passed,  Maha Yogi Guru Goraksh Nath ji who had a vision of the episode between Lord Rama and Vaishnavi in the retrospective time frame, became curious to find out whether Vaishnavi has been able to attain a high level of spirituality or not. He, therefore, sent his most able disciple 'Bhairon Nath' to find out the truth. Bhairon Nath on locating the ashram started observing Vaishnavi secretly, and realised that though a 'Sadhvi' she always carried bow and arrows with her, and was always surrounded by langoors (apes) and a ferocious looking lion. Bhairon Nath was enamored by Vaishnavi's extraordinary beauty, and losing all good sense he began to pester Vaishnavi to marry him. Meanwhile a staunch devotee of Vaiashnavi, Mata Sridhar organised a Bhandara (Community meal) in which the whole village and Maha Yogi Guru Goraksh Nath ji along with all his followers including Bhairon were invited. During the course of Bhandara Bhairon Nath attempted to grab Vaishnavi but she tried her best to daunt him. On failing to do so, Vaishnavi decided to flee away into the mountains to continue her Tapasaya undisturbed. Bhairon Nath however chased her to her destination.

 

The goddess after halting at (present day) Banganga, Charan Paduka, and Adhkwari, finally reached the holy cave Shrine. When Bhairon Nath continued to follow her despite the goddess trying to avoid a confrontation, the goddess was compelled to kill him. Bhairon Nath met his ultimate fate when the goddess, just outside the mouth of the cave, beheaded him. The severed head of Bhairon fell with a force at a distant hilltop. Bhairon Nath upon death realized the futility of his mission and prayed to the deity to forgive him. The almighty Mata ( Mother Goddess) had mercy on Bhairon and gave him a boon that every devotee of the goddess would have to have the Darshans of Bhairon after having the Darshans of the Goddess and only then would the yatra of a devotee be complete. Meanwhile, Vaishnavi decided to shed off her human form and assuming the face of a rock she immersed her self into meditation forever. Thus Vaishnavi, in the form of a five and a half feet tall rock with three heads or the Pindies on the top is the ultimate destination of a devotee. These Pindies constitute the Sanctum Sanctorum of the holy cave known as the shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji, which is revered by one and all.

The significance of various places

Devi to  escape Bairon   ran away stopping at various places on the trail up the Trikuta mountain. There places are now known as Banganga (Ganga river emerged from arrow), Charan Paduka (Holy footprints), Ardha Kunwari —the place where she is said to have remained for nine months in a cave, — and finally at Bhavan, the cave that is now known as her home. There taking the form of Chamundi (a form of Kali), she beheaded Bhaironath.