Vaishno Devi Temple, Jammu & Kashmir

The Vaishno Devi Temple is a prominent shrine where Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, and Mahasaraswati is worshipped as Maa Vaishno Devi, a manifestation of their energies. Situated in the Katra town of Reasi district, Jammu & Kashmir, the shrine is one of the 108 Shakti Peethas dedicated to Maa Durga, the principal aspect of Devi Maa. The temple is at an altitude of 5,200 ft on Trikuta hills in the Himalayan Mountain Range, where Maa Vaishno Devi showers blessings on her devotees from the holy cave. Although there is no historical record about the temple, there is a mention of the Trikuta hill in Rigveda – one of the four Vedas of Hindu Dharma.

According to Hindu Ithihas, Devi Maa is always worshipped for the attainment of excellence. As per the Mahabharata, before the Kurukshetra War, Lord Krishna suggested Arjuna to worship Devi Maa to seek her blessings. Pleased by his devotion, Devi Maa appeared in front of him in the form of Vaishno Devi. On seeing her, Arjuna started praising her with a strotam in which a Shloka goes by saying ‘Jambookatak Chityaishu Nityam Sannihitalaye’, which means ‘you who always dwell in the temple on the slope of the mountain in Jambhu’ — probably referring to the present day Jammu.

Maa Vaishno Devi was an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu (Srushti Sanrakshak). In his devotion, she used to meditate in a cave. According to Hindu Ithihas, it is believed that around 900 years ago Maa Vaishno Devi appeared in the form of a young girl and commanded a Brahmin named Shri Dhar from the village Hansali situated near the present-day Katra town to hold a bhandara for local people near Bhumika stream. During bhandara, Bhairon Nath, a disciple of Goraknath, appeared and demanded meat and liquor. As this was a bhandara for Brahmin’s, Maa Vaishno Devi informed him that he would get only vegetarian food. Looking at her, Bhairon Nath lusted after her. To escape him, she ran away stopping at various places on the trail up Trikunta hills. These places are now known as Banganga, Charan Paduka, Ardh Kunwari – the place where she is said to have remained for nine months in a cave, and finally Bhavan, the cave that is now known as her home. She took the form of Chamunda over there and beheaded Bhairon Nath.

Bhairon Nath’s body was held at the entrance to the cave and his head landed on the mountain where the present-day Bhairon Nath Temple is located. Bhairo Nath then repented, looking at which Maa Vaishno Devi granted him further salvation. She laid down the condition that unless pilgrims coming for her darshan did not also get his darshan – that is, darshan of his head – their pilgrimage would not be fruitful. That is how Bhairo Nath Temple and Ardh Kunwari Cave got their importance. The most prominent festival celebrated here is Navratri, a nine-night festival for celebrating Devi Maa’s victory over the demons. To celebrate the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance, Diwali is also celebrated here. Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board is responsible for the management of this shrine that has also constructed guest houses such as Vaishnavi Dham, Saraswati Dham, Kalika Dham, Niharika Yatri Niwas, Shakti Bhawan and Ashirwad Bhawan near the Railway station and Bus stand at Katra.