Vaishno Devi Temple

The Vaishno Devi Temple is an important Hindu temple dedicated to Vaishno Devi located in Katra at the Trikuta Mountains about 45 Kms from Jammu City. The temple is one of the 108 Shakti Peeths dedicated to Durga ji, who is worshipped as Vaishno Devi. It is one of the most visited pilgrimage centers of India. Every year millions of visitors visit the temple. During festivals like Navaratri, the count even increases to more than one crore visitors. Vaishno Devi Temple is one of the richest temples in India. Authors Michael Barnett and Janice Gross Stein say, "Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Jammu has an annual income of about $16 million, mainly from offerings by devotees".

Many prominent saints such as Vivekananda have visited this temple.

 Navaratri and Diwali are the two most prominent festivals celebrated in Vaishno Devi Temple. The management of the temple was taken over by the Jammu and Kashmir government through Shri Mata Vaishno devi Shrine Act. The committee nominated by the state government administers the temple and has nine members on its board.

Author Abha Chauhan identifies Vaishno Devi with the power of Vishnu as well as the incarnation of Lakshmi. Author Pintchman identifies with great goddess Mahadevi and says Vaishno Devi contains all powers and is associated with the entire creation as Mahadevi. Pintchman further states that, "Pilgrims identify Vaishno Devi with Durga (a form of Lakshmi)— whom Punjabis  also name Seranwali. 

Pilgrims travel from the city of Jammu  to the town of Katra, which is about 45 Kms from Jammu by road.  From Katra, starts the uphill journey to the Vaishno Devi Temple on foot, about 13 Kms. While on the way near the Trikuta mountain is the Banganga River. It is said that Vaishno Devi shot an arrow at the ground and brought forth the Ganga water to quench the thirst of Hanuman Ji. After Hanuman Ji disappeared, Vaishno Devi washed her hair in the water. The Banganga River is also known as the Balganga River, since "Bal" means hair and "Ganga" is synonymous with the Holy Ganga River. After Banganga is the Charan Paduka temple.

There is a story that Bhairav Nath, a famous Tantric, saw the young Vaishno Devi at an agricultural fair and started following her. Vaishno Devi fled into Trikuta hills to escape his advances. Once Vaishno Devi stood on a rock to look at Bhairavnath, This rock supposedly contained her footprints. Her footprints are worshipped in this temple. After having a darshan of Charan Paduka, Pilgrims come across the Ardha Kunwari Temple. Vaishno Devi meditated in this cave for 9 months, to escape Bhairav Nath. After having a darshan of Ardha Kunwari, the pilgrims go to the Bhairav Nath temple. It is said that after Vaishno Devi killed Bhairav Nath, Bhairav Nath realised his mistake and pleaded for forgiveness. Vaishno Devi blessed him by saying that if pilgrims did not have darshan of his head, their pilgrimage will not be fruitful. Pilgrims have a darshan of Bhairavnath's head before going to the Bhavan or Vaishno Devi's Temple. Pilgrims go inside the temple to have a darshan of the 3 pindikas (rocks) which represent Vaishno Devi.

The Appearance of Vaishno Devi to Shridhar and the story of Bhairav Nath

Professor and author Tracy Pintchman narrates the story as, "About nine hundred years ago Vaishno Devi appeared in the form of a young girl and commanded a Brahmin named Shridhar from the village Hansali (next to present day Katra) to hold a feast (bhandara) for local people near Bhumika stream. Vaishno Devi later manifested into 3 small rocks (pindikas) and stays there to the present day. Shridhar began doing puja to the pindikas at the cave, and his descendants continue to do so even today".

This religious place is considered the most important Shaktipeeth as it is believed; here the skull of the Goddess Sati fell.

At Mata Vaishno Devi Cave, the goddess is in the form of a five and a half feet tall rock which has three heads or the Pindies. On Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage, devotees make traditional offerings to Mata of chunri (a red coloured drape), sarees, dry fruits, silver or gold ornaments, flowers etc.

A 13-km trek from Katra town leads to Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage site where the goddess manifests herself in the natural rock formation (holy pindies) in the sanctum sanctorum (cave).  A tunnel was used by the devotees to reach the sanctum sanctorum of this holy site in Jammu. However, due to its narrowness, two new tunnels are built that help in the swift movement of pilgrims who come in queues here.

There is a helicopter service from Katra to Sanjhichhatt, from where the shrine is just 2.5 km away.

Mata Vaishno Devi Temple is open throughout the year; however, the best time to visit is between March and October. Devotees also like to plan their pilgrimage during the holy time of Navratras.

Things to Know Before Visiting Mata Vaishno Devi Temple

·         A trek of 13 km takes one to Mata Vaishno Devi, however for those who are unable to walk, ponies are also available.

·         A ropeway is constructed between Mata Vaishno Devi Cave and Bhairon Ghati.

·         A yatra slip has to be obtained from Yatra Registration Counter near Bus Station in Katra. One is not allowed to visit Mata Vaishno Devi without the yatra slip.