Vaishno Devi

Mata Vaishno Devi is one of the most visited shrines in India by millions of Devotees throughout the world. This holy place is famous for one of the youngest but powerful Goddess Vaishno Devi who came into existence by the collective spiritual strength of Goddess Kali, Goddess Laxmi, and Goddess Saraswati. This shrine is located within the caves of beautiful mountains of Jammu district of Jammu & Kashmir state of India. The Sanctorum or the Holy Cave is housed under the Holy Bhawan itself that remains the key attraction and a destination which the pilgrims can’t actually avoid. The Goddess had revealed herself by manifesting in the form of Holy Pindies – Mata Kali, Mata Laxmi and Mata Saraswati and being accommodated inside the Holy Cave itself.

  

The Bhawan is located at a distance of 1.5 km itself while pilgrims approach and get the first glimpse before reaching there. One can feel the sudden upsurge of energy the moment witnesses the first sight of Holy Bhawan henceforth all types of tiredness which one would have faced due to tireless climb that wane easily. The magic wave of mystic power enchants pilgrims. It is not easy to cross the 1.5 km tough Yatra on both levels and slopping that cause too much tiring of muscles. Once devotees get the first glimpse a new kind of feeling develops and the feeling arises that one has literally reached the eternal destination. Whosoever visits this holy shrine with a pure heart has always got blessed by from Mata Vaishno Devi.

Story of Mata Vaishno Devi

As per the legend, during the period when the Goddess was busy in annihilating the asuras, her three manifestations – Mata Kali, Mata Laxmi ad Mata Saraswati go together one day and pooled their collective Tejas (spiritual strength). A stunningly bright light emanated from the place where the Tejas of the three manifestations coalesced and a beautiful young girl emerged out of the Tejas. The young girl asked them, “Why have I been created?” The Devis explained to her that they had created her so that she would live o earth and sped her time upholding righteousness.  The Devis added, “Now, go and take birth in the house of Ratnakar and his wife who resides in the southern part of India and who are great devotees of ours. Live on earth, uphold righteousness and evolve yourself spiritually so that you reach the higher levels of consciousness. Once you have attained the appropriate level of consciousness you will merge into Vishnu and become one with him.”  So saying they blessed the girl.  Later a very beautiful girl child was born to Ratnakar and his wife. The couple named the child Vaishnavi. The girl right from her childhood displayed a hunger for knowledge which was like a vortex and which no amount of teaching and learning could sufficiently satiate. Subsequently, Vaishnavi started looking into her inner self for knowledge and soon learned the art of meditation and realized that meditation and penance can only bring her close to her greater objective. Vaishnavi thus relinquished all household comforts and went deep into the forest for Tapasya (meditation). Meanwhile, Lord Rama, during his fourteen years of exile happened to visit Vaishnavi who recognized him immediately as no ordinary being but the incarnation of Lord Vishnu and immediately asked him so that she could become one with the supreme creator.

However, Lord Rama, knowing that it was not the appropriate time, dissuaded her by saying that he would visit her again after the end of his exile and at that time if she succeeded in recognizing him, he would fulfill her wish. True to his words, Lord Rama again after being victorious in the battle but this time he did so in the disguise of an old man. Here Vaishnavi was unable to recognize him this time and was distraught. Upon this, Lord Rama consoled her that the appropriate time for her being one with the creator had outcome and that time would come eventually in “Kalyug” when he would be in his incarnation of “Kalki”. Lord Rama also directed her to meditate and set up an Ashram at the base of Trikuta hills (Himalayas) to her level of spirituality so as to bless mankind and rid the poor and destitute of their sufferings. Only then would “Vishnu” merge her into himself. Vaishnavi immediately set off for northern part and after immense hardships, reached the foot of Trikuta hills and set up her Ashram where she began to meditate.

Her glory spread far and wide, and people began to flock to her Ashram to seek her blessings. At this time Maha Yogi Guru Gorakh Nath who had a vision of the episode between Lord Rama and Vaishnavi in the retrospective time frame, became curious to find out whether Vaishnavi has been able to attain high level of spirituality or not. He therefore, sent his disciple “Bhairon Nath” to find the truth.  Bhairon Nath  on locating the ashram started observing Vaishnavi secretly and realized that though a Sadhvi she always carried bow and arrows with her and always surrounded by langoors (baboons) and a ferocious lion. Bhairon Nath was enamored by Vaishnavi’s extraordinary beauty and losing all good sense he began to pester Vaishnavi to marry him. Meanwhile a staunch devotees of Vaishnavi, Mata Sridhar organized a Bhandara (Community meal) I which the whole village and Maha Yogi Guru Gorakhnath were invited. Guru Gorakh Nath was accompanied by his followers including Bhairon Nath. During the course of Bhandara Bhairon Nath attempted to grab Vaishnavi but she tried her best to daunt him. On failing to do so, Vaishnavi decided to flee into the mountains to continue her Tapasya (penance) undisturbed. Bhairon Nath however chased her to her destination. The Goddess after at Bangara, Charan Paduka and Adhkwari, finally reached the holy cave Shrine. When Bhairon Nath continued to follow her despite the Goddess trying to avoid confrontation, the Goddess was compelled to kill him. Bhairon Nath met his ultimate fate when the Goddess, just outside the mouth of the cave, beheaded him. The severed head of Bhairon Nath fell with force at a distant hilltop. Bhairon Nath upon death realized the futility of his mission and prayed to deity to forgive him. The almighty Mother Goddess had mercy on Bhairon and gave him boon that every devotee of Goddess would have the Darshan of Bhairon after having the Darshan of the Goddess and only the would the Yatra of  a devotee be complete. Meanwhile Vaishnavi decided to shed off her human form and assuming the face of a rock she immersed herself into meditation forever. Thus Vaishnavi, in the form of a five and a half feet tall rock with three heads (Pindies) on the top is the destination of a devotee.

These Pindies constitute the Sanctum Sanctorum of the holy cave known as the shrine of Shri Vaishno Devi which is revered by one and all.  At this age of technology and modernization, Mata Vaishno Devi is blessing her devotees and giving a fruitful life to those who live their life in a right path.