Mata Vaishno Devi Mandir

The Holy Cave of the Mother situated at an attitude of Jwala 5200 ft. This is one of the 18 Sakthi peet. The Godess will in the form of Jwala here and hence the goddess used to call as Jwala Mukhi. This is an old temple said to be constructed lakhs of years ago. The temple is on the Trikut Mountain in the state of Jammu and Kashmir near Katra Town. Sathi, daughter of Daksha got abasement in the Yagna performed by Daksha and Sathi Devi committed suicide entering into altar (Homa Gund). To protect the universe from the angry of Siva, Lord Vishnu used his Sudarsana Chakra (Disk-like weapon of 108 serrated edges of Vishnu) and split the body into pieces. The body split into 51 pieces and spread all over India and Trinkomali of Sri Lanka and the places noted as Sakthi Peetams. 18 Sakthi Peetams known as Dwadasa Sakthi Peetams are prominent and Vaishno Devi sakthi peet is the 3rd Sakthi Peet where the head of Sathi said to be fallen. In olden days pilgrims used to visit Devi passing through a narrow and small cave and the JWALA is burning from times immemorial. The way is widen at present and make it feasible to visit without hurdles. Pilgrims have to walk nearly 10 km or to travel by horse or pony. We could not found the source for the JWALA and there are so many small temples here.  There is Pada Gaya (Feet of the Goddess) and Bhairava temple above to the Main temple.  It is believed that the yatra will not be completed without visiting these temples also. There is evidence in Legends in support of the story.  Pilgrims used to praise the Goddess “Agewale Bholo Jaimathaaki Peecewale Bholo Jaimathaji, Palkivale Bholo Jaimathaji Ghodevale Bholo Jaimathaji.”

The three temples Mahakali, Malakshmi and Saraswathi on Trikut Mountains are estimated from lakhs of years ago. History says that worship of The Goddess Sakthi started from Maha Bharat time and Pandavas worshipped Sakthi and the information was discussed in Maha Bharat. Arjuna worshiped The Goddess Vaishno Devi as per the instructions of Lord Krishna. There are five ruined rocky buildings constructed by Pandavas It is said to be the skull of Sathi Devi fallen here.

There is another legend on the divine place. People say Vaishnodevi is another form of Lakshmi and Parvathi. Vaishnavi is the mixed and brightening form of Maha Lakshmi, Maha Kali and Maha Saraswathi. In olden days, people suffered with monsters. Mahalakshi, Mahakali and Maha Saraswathi put together their effulgence and develop charisma creating a beautiful lady to rescue the people from the monsters. They have instructed the lady to born to Ratnakara Sagar on earth as element of Vishnu to perform charity and merge into Sri Maha Vishnu on attaining spiritual maturity. The child born to Ratnasagar named as Vaishnavi. Vaishnavi get the intension develop in meditation and gone to forest for yoga. Sri Rama who is under stay in forest for 14 years came there. Vaishnavi identified Sri Rama as Sri Maha Vishnu and requested to align in him. Sri Rama told that he shall come in due course after completion of forest life and he shall align her after his identification. Sri Rama came to her in the form of an old age person after completion of forest life and kill of Ravana. Vaishnavi failed to identify Rama in the form of old man. Her request was not fulfilled. Sri Rama informed that the present time is not precious that he shall wear incarnation of Kalki in Kaliyug and her request will be fulfilled at that time. Vaishnavi was advised to set an ashram in the Trikut Mountains and to make Yoga by fulfilling the desires of people and to clear their hurdles. Vaishnavi obeyed the suggestion of Sri Rama continuing her Yoga in Trikut Mountains and people used to come to take her blessings.  

Later Goraknath, an epicurean (Tantrik), know about Vaishnavi send his disciple Bhairavanath to gather information on her spirituality. Bhairava has sneak look on Vaishnavi and observed that she wear bow and arrows in all times along with Langoors and an Awful Lion. Bhairava impressed to her beauty and compelled her to marry him.Sridhar, a devotee of Vaishanvi  invited the Villagers, Vaishnavi, Goraknath and Bhairavanath along with their disciples to lunch. During taking meals, Bhairava mis-behaved with Vaishnavi.  Vaishnavi warned him but in vain. Vaishnavi gone to Trikut Mountains in the form of air and continued her Yoga. Bhairava followed her and she stay a while at Banaganga, Charanapaduka, Adhakvaaree and continued to the present divine cave in Trikut Mountains. She cut the head of Bhairava with her finger. His head fallen in the peak of a mountain near that place. Bhairava prayed Vaishno Devi to forgive him. The Goddess given boon that the devotees came to her darshan will visit Bhairava to complete their yatra. Later Vaishnavi formed idol with 3 head of 5.5 feet height in the cave of Trikut Mountain to fulfill the desires of devotees and to align in Sri Maha Vishnu with deep yoga. The three stone forms in the cave temple are the heads of Vaishno Devi and are being called as Mahakali, Vaishnodevi and Maha Saraswathi.

Vaishnodevi temple is at a distance of 65 km from Jammu capital of Jammu and Kashmir State. Pilgrims may reach to KATRA railway station at a distance of 50 km from Jammu. From Katra we may reach the bottom of the TRIKUTA Hills by Auto/Taxi. From the bottom we have to reach the temple at a distance of 10 km. by walk/trekking/horse. Tiffin Stalls and Pan Shops are available throughout the way and shelter available to the pilgrims goes by walk.  Rest places are there for the convenient of the Pilgrims. Helicopter available from the base camp of Katra to the top of the hill.  But from the helipad we have to come down 2 km by road/trek/horse to reach the temple. There are direct busses from the Delhi, Dehradun. Patiyala, Amruthsar, Patankot. There are number of trains to Katra from Colcutta, Patankot, Amruthsar and Delhi Railway Stations. Strict vigilance is here and cell phones, Cameras and all electronic goods. All the electronic goods should be deposited in the lockers provided for the purpose. The temple opens day and night throughout the year and Rooms / Dormitory accommodation provided by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine to the Pilgrims.