Vaishno Devi Temple - Katra, Jammu

Located in the Trikuta Hills in Katra, Jammu & Kashmir, the Mata Vaishno Devi Cave Temple is the second-most popular Hindu pilgrimage site in India. The Mother Goddess, also known as Mata Vaishno Devi, is claimed to grant the wishes of Hindu worshippers who travel from all over the world to this famous religious location. Given that it is thought that the Goddess Sati's skull fell here, this holy site is regarded as the most significant Shaktipeeth.

About Mata Vaishno Devi Mandir in Katra, Jammu

Situated in the Trikuta Hills of Katra, Jammu & Kashmir, lies the Mata Vaishno Devi Cave Temple, the second most popular Hindu pilgrimage site in India. At this well-known religious location, Hindu devotees from all over the world come to see Mata Vaishno Devi, also known as the Mother Goddess, who is believed to grant their wishes. This sacred site is regarded as the most significant Shaktipeeth since it is said that the Goddess Sati's skull fell here.

The goddess in Mata Vaishno Devi Cave is represented by the three heads, or Pindies, of a five and a half-foot-tall rock. Devotees of Mata Vaishno Devi present customary gifts to the goddess, such as cholas, flowers, sarees, dry fruits, silver or gold trinkets, and chunri, a scarlet drape.

Temples to visit during Navratri

History of Vaishno Devi

Since the establishment of the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board in 1986, a large number of Hindu pilgrims have visited Jammu's most well-known religious location.

Pandit Sridhar, a Hindu priest, is credited with discovering Mata Vaishno Devi's holy cave. The priest's dream featured the appearance of Goddess Vaishnavi, who gave him directions to her residence on the Trikuta Hills. The priest, having followed her instructions, sets out on the dream's journey and arrives at the cave as directed. He saw Mata Vaishno Devi, who bestowed upon him four sons. In addition, she bestowed upon him the blessing of being the cave's keeper. The descendants of Pandit Shridhar uphold the pledge until now.

Vaishno Devi Temple has a legendary story

Vaishno Devi Temple is one of the famous temples of North India. Do you know why Vaishno Devi is worshiped here according to mythological stories..? Here is the legendary story of the temple.

Vaishno Devi place is one of the most revered and sacred places in North India. The temple is situated in a beautiful plain. The Vaishno Devi Temple in North India is a center of faith and reverence for Hindus. There are many mythological stories related to this Vaishno goddess. Especially these two stories are very important.

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The first story related to Mother Vaishno Devi

It is believed that once the Mother of Mountains Vaishno Devi manifested her presence to the entire creation by appeasing the devotion of her beloved devotee Pandit Sridhar. Shridhar, a great devotee of mother Vaishnodevi, lived in the village of Hansali, about 2 kilometers from today's Katra town. No matter how many years passed by his marriage, there were no children. So he worshiped Vaishno Devi. One day on Navratri, Sridhar called the maidens to a feast. Vaishno Devi also joined those maidens. After the puja is over all the maidens accept the prasad and leave. But Vaishno Devi is there and tells her devotee Sridhara to invite everyone to come home to Bhandare. Sridhar agrees to this girl and invites everyone to Bhandare.

She served food to the villagers

Devotee Sridhara invited Guru Gorakhnath and his disciple Baba Bhairavanatha for dinner. All the villagers were surprised by the invitation of food. Everyone was curious as to who that girl was who was feeding so many people. Later many villagers come to Pandit Sridhar's house for dinner. Then Mother Vaishno Devi started serving food to everyone in a mysterious vessel.

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Banganga river originates from it

Goddess Vaishno in the form of a virgin comes to Bhairavanatha serving food to all the villagers. Then Bhairavanatha tells me that I don't want vegetarian food, I want meat and drink. Then Vaishno Devi says that eating meat is very sinful for Brahmins, so they cannot eat meat. But Bhairavanatha deliberately insists that I want meat and goes to catch the goddess, then the mother realizes Bhairavanatha's treacherous nature and flies to the Trikuta mountain instead of in the air.

At the same time, Bhairavanatha also chases the goddess. At the same time, Hanuman also comes to the rescue of the goddess. According to beliefs, Hanuman gets thirsty when he comes to save his mother. Hanuman asks his mother for water to drink. Then Goddess Vaishno split the mountain with her bows and let water flow out. It is said that Hanuman quenched his thirst in the same water and the mother also washed her hair in the same water. Hence the river is called Banganga and it is believed that bathing in this holy river will relieve the fatigue and suffering of the devotees.

Here is the cave where the mother did penance

At this time Mother Vaishno Devi enters a cave. And there she meditates for exactly 9 months. Even there Bhairavanatha did not touch her. He follows. Then the monk in that cave explains to Bhairavanatha that she is not a virgin, but she is Adishakti Jagadamba. However, Bhairavanatha does not listen to the monk and enters the cave to catch her. Due to this the mother leaves from the other side of the cave. Even today that cave is called Ardhakumari or Adikumari or Garbhajuna.

Mata Vaishno Devi in ​​the form of Mahakali

A great war takes place between Hanuman and Bhairavanath near the cave. Hanuman becomes weak in this fight. So Mata Vaishnavi Devi takes the form of Mahakali and kills Bhairavanatha. She beheaded Bhairavanatha and threw it in the Bhairava valley of the Trikuta mountain, which was about 8 kilometers from the cave. That place is known as Bhaironath Temple. Mother Kali, Mother Saraswati and Mother Lakshmi are said to reside in this cave.

Bhairavanatha asked for salvation

Mother Vaishno Devi knew that Himadin Bhairav's main motive for attacking her was to gain salvation. Hence Goddess Vaishno grants salvation to Bhairavanatha from her cycle of reincarnation. And she says that the devotees of him should visit her and get your darshan only after getting darshan. As per the same belief even today one visits Bhairavanath only after visiting Mother Vaishnavi Devi. But here Pandit Sridhara was impatient. And he reaches the Trikuta mountain cave to see the goddess. Sridhara starts worshiping the goddess in the cave. Inspired by his devotion, Mother Vaishno Devi appeared in front of him and blessed him. Since then Sridhara and his descendants have been worshiping Mother Vaishno Devi.

The second story of Vaishno Devi

According to Hindu mythological beliefs, religion was on the decline in the world and adharma began to increase. From this, Adisakti's Sata, Raja and Tama create a girl to protect Dharma from the collective power of these three forms, Mahasaraswati, Mahalakshmi and Mahadurga. The same girl is born in Treta Yuga as the daughter of Pandita Ratnakara who was lamenting childless in Rameshwar on the south coast of India. Pandita Ratnakara names the daughter Trikuta. But because she is identified as a part of Vishnu, she is known as Vaishnavite. When she was about 9 years old, Lord Vishnu came to earth in the form of Lord Rama. She then undergoes severe penance to marry Rama.

Will Sri Rama get married..?

When Sri Rama goes looking for Sita when he goes missing, he sees a girl meditating on the beach. Then she sees Rama and begs him to marry her. Then Sri Rama said it is not possible. He says that he will not accept anyone but Sita as his wife. But in Kali Yuga I will marry you in Kalki avatar till then you go to Trikuta mountain in Himalayas and meditate and relieve the sufferings of the devotees. When Lord Rama wins against Ravana, Vaishnavites celebrate Navaratri with similar joy. Since then Ramayana is recited and Goddess Vaishno is worshiped during the 9 days of Navratri.