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Mata Vaishno Devi

Trikuta hills, Katra, Reasi district, Jammu and Kashmir

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Mata Vaishno Devi
Photo: Erdeepakjangra, CC0

About

Mata Vaishno Devi is one of the most visited Devi shrines in India. Her holy cave, called the Bhawan, is high on the three-peaked Trikuta hill above Katra in Jammu. There is no carved idol inside. Devotees bow to three natural rock pindis, worshipped as Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati. The walk from Katra to the Bhawan is about 12 to 13 km uphill, and the path rings with 'Jai Mata Di'. Many families believe the yatra happens only when Mata calls, and they return again and again. The shrine is looked after by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board.

The story

By the shrine's tradition, Devi Vaishnavi was born in South India and gave her life to prayer and tapasya. Shri Ram met her during his exile, and came again after his victory in Lanka. He asked her to meditate at the foot of the Trikuta hills, promising that in Kalyug, in his Kalki form, he would make her one with him. Her fame spread. Bhairon Nath, a disciple of Guru Gorakhnath, came to her ashram and began to trouble her, and at a bhandara held by her devotee Pandit Shridhar he tried to seize her. To continue her tapasya in peace, she went up into the hills, stopping at Banganga, Charan Paduka and Ardhkuwari; devotees believe she meditated for nine months in the small cave at Ardhkuwari. When Bhairon still followed her, she ended his life outside the holy cave. He asked for forgiveness, and she blessed him: a pilgrim's yatra is complete only after darshan at his temple too. Then she took the form of a rock with three pindis and went into deep meditation. The shrine board says that about 700 years ago she showed the cave to Pandit Shridhar in a dream, and worship has gone on since. Some traditions also count the cave among the Shakti Peeths.

Visiting

March to June and September to October are good months; winters are cold with snow higher up, and Navratri brings big crowds. Wear comfortable shoes and carry warm clothes. Ponies and palkis help those who cannot walk far. Banganga, Charan Paduka and Ardhkuwari lie on the route, and on the way back devotees visit the Bhairon Nath temple.

Festivals

  • Chaitra Navratri and Sharad (Ashwin) Navratri
  • Diwali

Famous temples

Sources