The Vaishno Devi Ma Mandir is one of the most revered holy places of worship dedicated to Ma Shakti, situated in the divine hills of Vaishno Devi, Jammu and Kashmir, India.  As one of the most powerful manifestations of Mother Goddess, Vaishno Devi Ma is also known as Mata Rani and Ma Vaishnavi.

Placed in the Reasi district in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, the temple is near Katra. Towering at an altitude of 5300 ft. and a 12 kilometers stretch from Katra, the Holy Shrine is of one of the most divine place of worship in India.  As the second most visited holy temple, after Tirumala Venkateshwara temple, the number of pilgrims (yatris) visiting the holy shrine are close to 8 million every year.  The responsibility of the upkeep of the Shrine lies with the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. There is a high flight frequency at the Jammu Airport which is the nearest Airport having all the major domestic airlines rendering flights to it. Also, there is a railway track being put up from Uddhampur to Katra for facilitating smooth and cost effective transitioning of pilgrims to the Holy Shrine.

History

As one of the most ancient temples in India, it is almost impossible to chalk out when the pilgrims started to visit the Holy Shrine. One of the geographical surveys of the Holy Cave suggested its presence since almost a million years. The holy practice of worshiping Ma Shakti, hails way back to the Puranic period along with the mention of mountain Trikuta in RigVeda, one of the oldest Vedas out of the four major Vedas known to be the most ancient encrypted form of spiritual enlightenment to the mankind. Other than Rigveda, there is no Vedic literature available related to the worship of Ma Shakti, the Mother Goddess confirming the ancient and eternal presence of the Holy Shrine.

Ma Shakti, the Mother Goddess first and foremost mention in the mythological history is in the epic Mahabharata. At the time when Pandavas and Kauravas are pitted against each other in the Kurukshetra battlefield, the main warrior of Pandavas, Arjuna seeks blessings of Ma Shakti at the insistence of Lord Krishna for attaining victory in the fierce war against Kauravas. It is at this instance when Arjuna addresses upon Ma Shakti as “ JAMBOOKATAK CHITYAISHU NITYAM SANNIHITALAYE “,  which implies “She is the one who dwells in the temple descending on the slope of mountain in Jamboo” (which denotes the present day abode of Mother Goddess i.e. Jammu).

There is a general belief that the Pandavas were the first to lay the foundation of the temples at Kol Kandoli and Bhawan offering their gratitude for the revered Mother Goddess. This is supported by the existence of five stone structures guarding the Holy Cave on one of the mountains, just adjacent to the Trikuta Mountain symbolizing the five Pandavas.

The most ancient reference of the visit to the Holy Cave is that of the 10th Guru of the Sikhism, Guru Gobind Singh Ji who is believed to visit the Holy Shrine through Purmandal. The old foot track to the Holy Cave passed through this much acclaimed pilgrimage center.

There is also a belief that Ma Vaishno Devi temple is the most sacred of all the Shaktipeeths ( a place of Ma Shakti, where  the Mother Goddess Abodes) as the skull of Mata Sati fell here.  Few also believe that Her right arm fell here though there is a difference of opinion on this in few scriptures stating that the Right Arm of Ma Shakti fell at Gandarbal in Kashmir. Nevertheless, in the precincts of the Holy cave of  Mata  Vaishno Devi, stone remains of a human hand can still be cited, known as Varad Hast (The eternal Hand granting boons and blessings to the mankind).

Architecture

While treading towards the Sanctum Sanctorum, one gets to pass through a patio kind of a structure which opens to another Cave to its right which is the original Holy Cave leading to the Holy Pindies. The pilgrims used to reach the Sanctum Sanctorum through this Cave in the old times however this Cave is kept close of late for a major part of the year because of the narrow space and the prolonged time taken to cross it to reach the Sanctum Sanctorum for a single person. Considering the huge number of pilgrims visiting the Holy Shrine on a daily basis, it is not feasible to have the original Cave open for the pilgrims only with an exception when the yatra is for a count of less than 8,000 pilgrims per day.

Therefore, to ensure and facilitate larger count of pilgrims to have the divine darshan , two new tunnels have been utilized, one for the entrance purpose connecting directly to the Sanctum Sanctorum and another for the purpose of smooth exit of pilgrims, to avoid commotion.  Only during the lean season or for traditional festivities or while rituals are supposed to be performed at certain specific occasions, the original Holy Cave is opened. While crossing the area where the original Cave is located, one gets to pass through a corridor whereon numerous bells stay suspended from the ceiling. Further ahead, one reaches a broad platform wherein statues of the Lions, the mount of the Mother Goddess and a life size statuteof Ma Shakti are enshrined.  This is the new tunnel’s entrance which is barely 200 meters long.

The Holy Cave in Mata Vaishnodevi Temple

The Holy Cave is around 98 feet long with the PINDIES and other holy places inside it. It is a spiritual belief that the 330 million Gods and Goddesses dwell inside the Holy Cave and are supposed to leave their indelible marks (symbols) inside the Holy cave while they worshipped the Mother Goddess.  At the entrance of the Holy Cave there is a symbol of Vakratund  Ganesha on the left hand side. Alongside there is the symbol of Surya and Chandra Deva. Once inside the Holy Cave, one has to cross the 14 feet long torso of Bhairon Nath. The head is touted to have fallen atop an adjacent mountain, where a temple exists.

Post crossing the torso of Bhairon Nath, there is a symbol of Lord Hanuman as Launkra Beer.  Further on comes the legendary river Charan Ganga which flows from the divine feet of Mata. The pilgrims doing their yatra through the old Holy Cave have to tread through water after this point. Treading ahead around 23 feet further to Launkra Beer, on the left upper hand side, one gets to witness the entire Cave resting on the multi headed Shesh Nag.  Right underneath is a Haven Kund of Mataji and close to it, one gets to see the symbols of Shankh, Chakra, Gada and Padam.

Standing tall touching the ceiling are the towering statutes of the five Pandavas, the Saptarishis, the udders of the divine cow, Kamdhenu, the divine trilogy of Brahma-Vishnu-Mahesh and the most divine Shiva-Parvati . Further ahead, one gets to witness the Khamba-Pillar that was grip held by the legendary Bhakt (devotee) Prahlad.  Diagonally close to the water level lies a Yantra on which many mystical signs and symbols are encrypted.  Further 22 feet ahead are inscribed the paw marks of a Lion, symbolizing the carrier mount of Mata Vaishno Devi. Six feet ahead, on the left hand side, are the symbols of Shankar-Gauri.

Here on thirteen feet ahead are the Holy Pindies. Towards the right hand side, one gets to see the symbols of Lord GANESHA, Surya Dev, Chandra Dev and Goddess Annapurna. Close to the back of the Holy Pindies, there is a symbol of a seated Lion on the right hand side.  Further ahead, is the Varad hast of Ma Shakti, the raised arm of  Mother Goddess to grant boons and blessings to the devotees.  Right opposite to the Holy Pindies, dwells the holy symbol of Lord Pashupati Nath. All these divine and rare sites can only be witnessed if one gets to go through the original Holy Cave however due to increasing numbers of devotees visiting the Holy Shrine, the new tunnel is used rendering the original Holy Cave open only during the lean season.

The other divine darshanas in the bhawan include a Shivalinga Cave, Mata Durga, Lord Shiva, Shri Rama with Sita Ma and Lakshman, Lord Hanuman amongst other numerous divine deities.  All these temples are situated at several different points. There are Yagyashalas in the Bhawan where Yagyas and Havans are performed round the year and during the revered Navratras.  The main Yagyashala is situated in the Saraswati  Bhawan.

How to Reach

Vaishno Devi is situated fourteen kilometers ahead from the town of Katra and 52 kilometers from North Jammu.  Katra stands at a towering 2800 feet height and it takes close to two hours to reach it from Jammu through bus travel.

By Air

The closest airport to the Holy Shrine is located in Jammu which is at a distance of 48 kilometers from Katra. Also there is a helicopter service available wherein the chopper flies from the airport at Sanjichat in Jammu during the morning hours.

By Rail

The closest railway station is also located in Jammu which is well connected to all the major cities in India.

By Road

There is a regular bus service available for the 52 kms. stretch from the Central Bus Stand in Jammu to Katra  which is a two hours journey. Further on from Katra, it is a steep tread of 13 kilometers which is a 4 hour climb and a 3 hour down tread in the same day.  The pilgrims can rent a horse or get a palanquin ride uphill from Katra. Pilgrims must attain a YATRA SLIP from the Tourist Reception Center (near the Katra Bus Stand) to be eligible to get passes for Bana Ganga . It is quite an exhaustive climb to Vaishno Devi.

Local Transitoning

One has to trek uphill on mountains to visit the shrine. Considering the huge count of pilgrims visiting the Holy Shrine for Darshan, a new tunnel (200 meters of length ) has been constructed to lessen the number of hours taken to reach the Sanctum Sanctorum and to have a smooth passage to the same.  However, the original Holy Cave is open for the devotees during the lean season, traditional festivities or any specific ritualistic occasions.

Important Shrines

There is a riveting and amazing view of three rock cut statutes symbolizing the three major manifestations of MA SHAKTI in the 100 feet  long Holy Cave inside the Vaishno Devi Temple. The middle one is symbolic of Goddess Lakshmi, the right one symbolizes  Goddess KALI, and the left one symbolizes Goddess Saraswati , a true divine personification of MA SHAKTI ‘S various avatars and a marvelous sight.

Significance of the Vaishno Devi Temple

During the time of evasion of evil Asuras, the three major manifestations of MA SHAKTI i.e.  MAHAKALI, MAHALAKSHMI and MAHASARASWATI, pooled their divine powers in the form of a holy girl child born to a Ratnakar on earth to uphold righteous honor and attain a higher level of conscious to merge with Lord Vishnu.

A blessed and enlightened soul, the girl child in search of GOD (The Supreme Soul) wandered in a thick forest. Intrigued by her pious and spiritual cause, Gorakhnath ( a tantra Guru) sent one of his disciples Bhairon Nath to look out for her. But instead of safeguarding her honor, Bhairon Nath started invading her privacy and even expressed his intention of marrying her resenting which Vaishnavi, the holy girl child left Trikuta mountains.

While treading through a ravine, she shot an arrow in the earth’s crust where from a gush of water came  out  in the form of a stream which was named as Bana Ganga and the place she rested was named as Charan Paduka, which borne the imprints of her feet.  The holy Goddess then meditated inside a cave at Adhkuwari. It took nine months for Bhairon Nath to locate her for which the cave was named as GARBH JOON. Mata Vaishno Devi then blasted an opening at the other end of the Cave with her TRIDENT when Bhairon Nath found her.

At the time of arriving at the Holy Cave at Darbar, she acquired the form of MAHAKALI and beheaded Bhairon Nath whose head fell atop the mountain wherein the Bhairon Nath temple is located now. The boulder at the mouth of the Holy Cave according to the legend is the horrified torso of Bhairon Nath who in his dying moments was granted divine forgiveness by the benign MA VAISHNO.

Timings and Other Information

Weather and Time to Visit

Vaishno Devi Shrine can be visited round the year however best months to visit the Holy Shrine is from March to October.

Summertime ( March – July )

This is a pleasant and an apt period to visit Vaishno Devi and hence most of the devotees frequent the Holy Shrine during this period.

Winter (October to February)

During these months, the temperature dips down to sub zero levels at Vaishno Devi and snowfall  is a common sight.

Monsoon (August to September)

It is not advisable to visit the Holy Shrine during the monsoon period as lot of mudslides and landslides happen at this time due to medium to heavy rainfall at the place. Although for the nature lovers , it is a sheer visual delight.

The Holy Shrine of MA VAISHNO DEVI  is open to the devotes all round the year however the summertime is the best time for undertaking the pilgrimage as the natural beauty is at its culmination and there is no snowfall to disrupt the smooth transitioning of Yatra for pilgrims. As winter time in the Vaishno Devi region is the sub zero temperature period and excessive snowfall happens during this time, it is an extremely taxing and difficult period for the pilgrims to trek on the steep climb. One can visit the Holy Shrine of Vaishno Devi at any time of the year however planning during the winter season should be generally avoided.

Accomodation

The Vaishno Devi Shrine Board offers the visitors a lot of well maintained and cost effective accommodation facilities including free and rented accommodation options at Niharika Yatri Niwas and the Shakti Bhawan located at the Katra bus stand. There is a 700 bedded accommodation option at Trikuta Bhawan in Katra near the second Yatra Counter (YRC II) in Katra.  The tariffs here range from 700 INR for double bed A.C. rooms to 650 INR for four bedded non A.C., non-carpet rooms. The dormitory facility costs 60 INR per bed. There are other premium accommodations options also available at Adkuwari, Sanjichat and Bhawan as in Suites, dormitories and huts. Both air conditioned and regular room options are available at these locations. Other facilities like Cafeteria, Souvenir shops, cloak rooms and free private- vehicle parking are available at all the units of accommodation on the Shrine Board.

Donation

Donations and offerings made by the devotees at the Holy Shrine are the main source of income for the Shrine Board which is utilized for creating the infrastructural facilities for the pilgrims visiting the Holy Shrine and also the general maintenance.  Pertaining to the fact that the board is not aided by the State or the Central Government of India financially, most of the infrastructural and other facilities created for benefitting the pilgrims only come to life with the central pool of donations.

These offerings and donations could be made either in form of cash,demand drafts or cheques. Various donation counters are put up by the Shrine Board to facilitate the pilgrims to make donations. These donation counters are available at Bhawan, Sanjichat, Adkuwari, Enquiry and Reservation at Niharika, Katra and also at the Central Office of the Shrine Board at Katra.  All the counters are computerized and have well trained manpower of the Shrine Board handling them. Devotees making an offering or donation at these donation counters are issued computer generated donation receipts bearing the First photograph of the gold ornamentation of the Holy Pindies which can be preserved as souvenirs by them and also makes them eligible to claim Income Tax Exemption on the donations made by them towards the cause of Holy Shrine. These counter details are mentioned below:

Tips for Devotees :

While on the Track

At Bhawan & For Darshans

Photo Gallery