State: Jammu & Kashmir
Important Temples: The holy cave of Mata Vaishno Devi, Adkuwari, Charan Paduka & Bhairon Mandir
Location: The holy cave of Mata Vaishno Devi is located in the folds of the three mountains called Trikuta, at an altitude of 5,200 ft, in north-western Himalaya
Distance: 12 km North East of Katra, 62 km North East of Jammu

The devotion and faith of the Vaishno Devi Mata pilgrims cannot help but touch even the most skeptical observer. No description of the Yatra (Pilgrimage) to Vaishno Devi can do justice to the holy pilgrimage in its entirety because one’s own goals determine the experience of the visit. Whatever may be the reason of the pilgrim, it is believed that the visit to Vaishno Devi happens only when the mother calls herself.

The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board was setup in 1986 with the objective of providing better management and governance of the holy shrine. The development undertaken by the trust has made Vaishno Devi as one of the cleanest and best maintained Kshetra (A place where there is a holy temple or where there is believed to have been the locale of an event of religious importance) in India. Even the Yatris have contributed to the upkeep and maintenance of the facilities.

It is believed that once you have received the call (bulava) from Vaishno Mata, it is best to step forward and soak the experience of the unforgettable Yatra. The long trek uphill is nothing for the Yatri as Devi Mata empowers everyone to complete the Yatra without getting too tired or exhausted.

The Legend:

The Goddess Vaishnavi took birth in human form in the house of Ratnakar Pandit, in Rameswaram (Tamil Nadu). Vaishnavi wished to marry Lord Vishnu, who had taken birth as Lord Ram in his incarnation. At the same time, Lord Ram was in exile and Sita had been abducted by Ravana to Lanka (present Sri Lanka). Vaishnavi approached Lord Ram and was promised that he would marry her on his return from Lanka with Sita, provided Vaishnavi could recognize him. When Vaishnavi failed to do so, as Lord Ram was disguised as an old hermit, he asked her to wait for Kaliyug, on the Trikuta Mountain. Since Lord Ram resides in every human being, he said he would visit her as part of every devotee who came to see her and when the entire humanity would have taken her blessings, he would marry her in his Kalki avatar.

In search of Trikuta, the goddess appeared as a child to a Brahmin named Shreedhar and asked him to arrange for a mighty feast. Shreedhar was a very poor man, but by the grace of the goddess, the Bhandara (Holy feast) was hugely attended. One of the guests present was Bhairon. He being the disciple of Gorakhnath, a spiritual master of Tantra wished to test Vaishnavi’s righteousness and virtue. Bhairon tried to force the goddess into serving alcohol and non-vegetarian food, to which Vaishnavi refused and had to escape to continue her journey. She was accompanied by Veer and Langur her guards since Bhairon was in pursuit.

In order to quench the thirst of her guards, Vaishnavi fired an arrow into the ground. The arrow resulted in a spring of water known as the Banganga River. The goddess also left behind the imprints of her feet, worshipped as Charan Paduka. Thereafter, Vaishnavi settled herself in a womb shaped cave, which was then called as Garbha Joon. The goddess meditated there for nine months, later interrupted by Bhairon. He refused to heed her warnings, after which the Goddess took the form of Maha Kali and severed Bhairon’s head. Bhairon realized his mistake on seeing her in the form of Kali and begged forgiveness. Seeing Bhairon repent, Devi Mata forgave him and granted him a shelter near her abode before discarding her human form and turning herself into a rock. Vaishno Mata also promised him that a journey to her shrine would be complete only if the pilgrim visited Bhairon’s temple as well. The natural rock form in which Vaishno Mata has turned herself is called as Pindi.

Vaishno Mata is known as the “Munh Maangi Muraaden Poori Karne Wali Mata”, as the Goddess is believed to fulfil all the longings of human life i.e. Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha.

Important Information:

The holy shrine is open round the clock throughout the year, except for the two hours of Aarti at sunrise and sunset everyday. There is no fee for darshan, however special darshans are possible. The main offerings presented to the Goddess are red chunnis, sarees, silver or gold ornaments, dry fruits and flowers. No coconuts are allowed to be broken near the holy cave, however if you are carrying a coconut, you may deposit it at a counter in the main waiting hall. Pilgrims are expected to take a bath before darshan. The most important festivals at the shrine are Chaitra Navratra (March-April), Sharad Navaratra (September-October) and Diwali.

Registration is a must for every pilgrim at the Registration counters in Katra. The counters are open round the clock at the Katra Bus Stand. Each pilgrim is allowed to register for only nine fellow pilgrims. Many pilgrims prefer to trek the holy mountain on foot, but ponies and porters are available for those unable to walk the distance. These should be hired from official counters next to the Darshani Deodhi for security purposes and their official identification card should be kept along until return to ensure proper service.