Mata Vaishno Devi Temple, the holy Shakti Peeth of Durga Mata
Yatra to the Holy Shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi is considered one of the holiest tirth-yatras.
NewsBharati 29-Mar-2022 17:04:22 PM
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We are all aware of this famous temple in our country, so let us find out more about it before the Chaitra Navratri which is about to start this week. Residing amidst the beautiful misty mountains of Trikuta in Jammu & Kashmir is one of India’s most visited Hindu pilgrimage destinations - Mata Vaishno Devi Cave Temple. The famed religious site attracts devotees from all over the globe, where they come seeking blessings of Goddess Vaishno Devi as she is said to fulfil all their wishes.
History | The temple has rich history & heritage attached to it. The cave’s importance is seen in folktales telling that here was Goddess Sati’s skull had fallen & the goddess resides here in the form of a 5 and a half ft tall rock which has 3 heads or pindies.
It hasn’t been possible to know the exact date / year of the beginning of the worship of the Goddess in these caves, but it is believed to have connections with Mahabharata which speak of the goddess of Jamboo Mountains, present-day Jammu. The Pandavas were believed to be the original worshipers of the Goddess in the cave.
Yatra to the Holy Shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi is considered one of the holiest tirth-yatras.
The first day of Chaitra Navratri falls during the ‘Shukla Paksha’ of the moon i.e. - the full moon phase. The rituals performed during the nine days in order to praise Goddess Durga, vary each day. It also marks the birthday of Lord Rama, which usually falls on the 9th day during the Navratri festivity, hence it is also known as Rama Navratri.
Shrine Board | The temple & its related activities are overseen by the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, formed in 1986. The Board provides services to the devotees on the basis of no profit-making.
The board sees over maintenance of guest houses, dhams located in Jammu, Katra, Adkuwari, Sanjichhat & Bhawan apart from bhojanalaya services both in Main Bhawan and the Manokamana Bhawan Complex. The temple administration provides cheap & affordable eating options along long trek both up and down the cave, including hygienic meals, water, hot and cold beverages, etc.
This Vaishno Devi Temple is one of those places on the planet which cannot be travelled or explored but it needs to be lived in person. Kashmir’s extensive beauty, the city’s irresistible allure and the temple’s religious setting, make the difficult journey here, worth it.
About the temple | Considered as one of the most important, sacred temples in India, Vaishno Devi temple is also an important Shaktipeeth with strong beliefs and connection to people. In fact, Mata Vaishno Devi darshan is such a big deal amongst Indians that delays & overpopulated hotels are common here.
It takes a 13 km trek from Katra to reach the Bhawan; it diverges into 2 different pathways. The first path goes via Adhkuwari Temple, which denotes that the pilgrims are halfway through the Bhawan. Its old construction is revealed through the step and narrow passageways. The newer second route goes via Himkoti and is wide enough.
History | The temple has rich history & heritage attached to it. The cave’s importance is seen in folktales telling that here was Goddess Sati’s skull had fallen & the goddess resides here in the form of a 5 and a half ft tall rock which has 3 heads or pindies.
It hasn’t been possible to know the exact date / year of the beginning of the worship of the Goddess in these caves, but it is believed to have connections with Mahabharata which speak of the goddess of Jamboo Mountains, present-day Jammu. The Pandavas were believed to be the original worshipers of the Goddess in the cave.
The holy cave at the temple is said to have been first discovered by Pandit Sridhar, a Hindu priest, who saw the Goddess in his dream, and was instructed to find the temple. When he found the holy cave, the Goddess appeared to him and blessed him with 4 sons. He was given the boon of being the custodian of the cave, a commitment locals believe his descendants follow to this day.
Today, the The Lieutenant Governor (LG) of Jammu & Kashmir Manoj Sinha paid homage to Mata Vaishno Devi in Katra, reviewing the arrangements made by the Shrine Board for the upcoming Chaitra Navratri on Tuesday.
The Chaitra Navratri or Vasant Navratri is celebrated during the spring season in India, and it is an important 9-day celebration for the Hindu community. This year, the festival will start on April 02, 2022, and will end on April 11, 2022.
The first day of Chaitra Navratri falls during the ‘Shukla Paksha’ of the moon i.e. - the full moon phase. The rituals performed during the nine days in order to praise Goddess Durga, vary each day. It also marks the birthday of Lord Rama, which usually falls on the 9th day during the Navratri festivity, hence it is also known as Rama Navratri.
Also Read | Kashiraj Kali Mandir, the secret hidden temple of Varanasi
The festival is much like Maha Navratri, dedicated to the nine different forms of Goddess Durga, collectively known as Navdurga.
Shrine Board | The temple & its related activities are overseen by the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, formed in 1986. The Board provides services to the devotees on the basis of no profit-making.
The board sees over maintenance of guest houses, dhams located in Jammu, Katra, Adkuwari, Sanjichhat & Bhawan apart from bhojanalaya services both in Main Bhawan and the Manokamana Bhawan Complex. The temple administration provides cheap & affordable eating options along long trek both up and down the cave, including hygienic meals, water, hot and cold beverages, etc.
Kinjal Dixit
Kinjal Dixit has a degree in bachelors in English and is currently pursuing her Master's in Journalism and Mass Communication. She has a hand at writing about infrastructure, culture and in sharing humanitarian stories.