Vaishno Devi Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Vaishno Devi who is a manifestation of Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, and Mahasarasvati in Katra, Jammu & Kashmir. It is situated on the Trikuta mountain at an elevation of 5,000 feet. The Shakti tradition regards it as a Shakti Pitha. This temple is recognised as one of the 108 Shakti Peethas and holds great significance because Goddess Durga is worshipped as Vaishno Devi.

This temple is one of India’s most popular pilgrimage sites, attracting millions of devotees annually. During festivals like Navratri, the number of devotees in the temple rises to one crore. Vaishno Devi Temple is well-known for its spiritual significance and as a tourist destination. It is also one of India’s richest temples. Hindu devotees from around the world come to this famous religious site, where the Mother Goddess, or Mata Vaishno Devi, is said to grant their wishes.

At Mata Vaishno Devi Cave, the goddess takes the form of a five-and-a-half-foot-tall rock with three heads, known as the Pindies. On the Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage, devotees make traditional offerings to Mata, including chunri (a red drape), sarees, dry fruits, silver or gold ornaments, Cholas, flowers, and so on. The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) governs the temple, and the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir has served as its chairman since August 1986.

Significance of Vaishno Devi Temple Katra

Mata Vaishno Devi Temple is regarded as the most important Shakti Peetha of Goddess Sati. Some believe that the goddess’ skull fell here following the Daksha Yagna episode. However, the discovery of a human hand led others to believe that her right arm had fallen. It is commonly referred to as the “Varad Hast,” which means “The Hand that bestows blessings.” The three Pindies in the cave are said to be representations of the Mother Goddess Shakti, emerging from a single rock.

Legend Related to Vaishno Devi Temple Katra

It is said that Bhairon Nath, a well-known Hindu Tantric, saw the young Vaishno Devi at an agricultural fair and fell madly in love with her. Vaishno Devi fled into the Trikuta hills to avoid his amorous advances; later, she transformed into her original form of Durga and severed his head with her sword in a cave. According to author Manohar Sajnani, some legends suggest that Vaishno Devi’s original home was Ardh Kunwari, a location about 6 kilometres from Katra town and the cave.

A geological study of the Holy Cave revealed that it is nearly a million years old. Rigveda also mentions the Trikuta hill, which is where the temple is located. The Mahabharata, which tells the story of the Pandavas and the Kurukshetra War, mentions the worship of goddess Vaishno Devi. Before the Kurukshetra War, Arjuna is said to have worshipped Durga on Lord Krishna’s advice for blessings. Mother Goddess, pleased with his devotion, appeared before him as Vaishno Devi.

When the goddess appeared, Arjuna began praising her with a stotra in which a Shloka said ‘Jambookatak Chityaishu Nityam Sannihitalaye ‘, which means ‘you who always dwell in the temple on the slope of the mountain in Jambhu’, most likely referring to modern-day Jammu.

History of Vaishno Devi Temple Katra

The Mata Vaishno Devi temple has a rich history and heritage. Folktales tell that the cave was where Goddess Sati’s skull fell and that the goddess now resides in the form of a five-and-a-half-foot tall rock with three heads, known as the Pindies. It has not been possible to determine the exact date or year of the Goddess’s worship in these caves, but it is thought to have connections with the Mahabharata, pointing to the holy goddess of the Jamboo Mountains in present-day Jammu. The Pandavas are thought to have been the first to worship the Goddess in the holy cave.

Pandit Sridhar, a Hindu priest, is said to have discovered the holy cave at Vaishno Devi temple after seeing the Goddess in a dream and being instructed to find the temple. When the priest discovered the holy cave, Mata Vaishno Devi appeared and blessed him with four sons. He was given the boon of being the cave’s custodian, a commitment that locals believe his descendants continue to uphold today.

The Vaishno Devi temple had already existed by 1846, when Maharaja Gulab Singh established the Dharmarth Trust to manage several temples in his territory, which included the Vaishno Devi temple. After independence, the trust remained in the hands of Gulab Singh’s descendants, and his descendant Karan Singh was in charge of administering the temple as the hereditary trustee until 1986, when Jagmohan, the then-governor of Jammu and Kashmir, passed legislation transferring control of the Vaishno Devi temple from the Dharmarth Trust and the hereditary priests to the Shrine Board.

The architecture of Vaishno Devi Temple Katra

The temple is located on Trikuta hill, 12 kilometres from Katra, and stands at a height of 1,585 meters (5,200 feet). It is approximately 61 kilometres from Jammu city. Mata Vaishno Devi lives in a holy cave on the three-peaked mountain known as Trikuta Hills. The sacred cave is made up of three naturally formed rocks called Pindis. Pindis is believed to be the manifestation of three Goddesses: Maha Kali, Maha Saraswati, and Maha Lakshmi.

The Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra is 12 kilometres long, and devotees must trek. They can, however, get to the holy cave by walking, hiring a pony or palki, or using helicopter services. Tourists can visit the holy shrine all year round. However, the best time to visit Vaishno Devi is during Navratri and New Year, when there is a massive celebration.

The temple worships three icons of Vaishno Devi: Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, and Mahasaraswati. The icons’ feet are washed with water from the perennially flowing river Banganga. The colours of the Pindis are different; the pale white rock represents Goddess Saraswati, who is on the left, while the yellow-based red represents Goddess Lakshmi, and the black represents Goddess Kali, who is directly to her left.

Facts about Vaishno Devi Temple Katra

• Vaishno Devi is one of the most sacred sites for Hindu devotees in Northern India. Katra is located in the Trikuta Mountains of Jammu and Kashmir, India. This temple is located 13.5 kilometres from Katra.
• It is believed that the Pandavas of the Mahabharata built the sacred cave temple.
• The goddess is mentioned in the Mahabharata as the Pandavas and Kauravas prepare for war in Kurukshetra.
• Every year, devotees travel from all over the world to visit this popular pilgrimage site.
• The temple worships three icons of Vaishno Devi: Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, and Mahasaraswati.
• Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board was formed in 1986, and since then, this most popular religious site in Jammu has attracted a large number of Hindu pilgrims.
• The holy cave of Mata Vaishno Devi is said to have been discovered by a Hindu priest named Pandit Sridhar. Goddess Vaishnavi appeared in the priest’s dream and instructed him on how to find her abode in the Trikuta Hills.
• According to author Abha Chauhan, Vaishno Devi is an incarnation of Durga.[23] The author Pintchman identifies with the great goddess Mahadevi, claiming that Vaishno Devi possesses all powers and is associated with all of creation.
• The Vaishno Devi Temple was included in the Jammu and Kashmir Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Act No. XVI/1988, as well as Article 26 of India’s Constitution.
• The board’s name is Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. The board consists of nine members who are all nominated by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, specifically the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir.
• The governor of Jammu and Kashmir serves as the board’s ex-officio chairman. In 1991, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board management took control of Shiv Khori, a well-known Shiva temple.

Important Instruction for Reaching Vaishno Devi Temple Katra

• The 13-kilometer trek to the Vaishno Devi temple cave begins at the Banganga checkpoint in Katra.
• Yatra registration is mandatory and free. It can be done in two ways: online and offline. If you register online, make sure to keep a printout of your Yatra Access Slip.
• Offline registration is available at the Yatra Registration Counter, which is located in Katra Main Market, Katra Railway Station, and the Tarakote Marg entry point.
• Pilgrims can rent ponies/horses and palki/palanquins from the Darshani Darwaza.
• The rate information is available at the entry point; make sure to hire a pony or palki based on the rates. Avoid paying anything above and beyond the fixed rates.
• Pilgrims can book helicopter tickets online or offline.
• In the case of an online booking, carry the ticket printout along with photo ID proof.
• Take a holy bath at the bathing ghat before proceeding to the Bhawan for darshan.
• It is highly recommended to carry heavy woollen clothes in the winter and light woollen in the summer.

Famous Festivals In Vaishno Devi Temple Katra

Millions of people visit this temple every year to celebrate all of the festivals that are held here. Some major festivals held here are

• Durga Puja. (Winter) – Devotees celebrate Navaratri at this temple in the month of Ashwin (Sep-Oct) and celebrate the triumph of the Goddess Durga over the buffalo demon (Mahishasura).
• Navaratri. (Summer) – They celebrate other Navaratri in the fortnight of the Chaitra (March-April). Every nine days they worship Navadurga (nine Durgas).
• Mahashivaratri is a fasting ritual that takes place in the last week of February. It is reminiscent of Lord Shiva bringing Goddess Parvati with him. A Grand Celebration is arranged by priests and the temple committee.

How To reach Vaishno Devi Temple Katra

Vaishno Devi shrine is located in the lap of Trikuta hills, 13 kilometres from base camp Katra in Jammu & Kashmir.

By Air: The nearest airport to Vaishno Devi Temple is Jammu Airport, officially known as Jammu Civil Enclave, which is 50 kilometres away. To get to the airport, there are many convenient cab and taxi services available.

By Rail: Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Railway Station in Katra is the nearest railway station to the Vaishno Devi Temple. Tourists can find excellent accommodations near the station. The real movement towards Mata Bhawan begins here.

By Road: Regular bus services are available from all major North Indian cities to Jammu and Katra, as NH 1A passes through Jammu on its way to Srinagar. If travelling by road, whether by public or private vehicle, you can take a bypass from Kunjwani, about 10 kilometres from Jammu, and head straight to Katra (the base camp for the Vaishno Devi trek).

By Trek: The trek to Vaishno Devi Temple is a well-kept paved trail with a gentle climb. Pilgrims enjoy breathtaking natural scenery along the way.

• Old Route – The old route passes through Adhkuwari before descending to Bhairav Ghati and the holy building.
• New Route – The new route is 5.5 kilometres shorter than the old one, and only electric rickshaws are permitted on it. Sanjhi Chhat Plateau is a resting place near Ardhkuwari, and the holy temple is two and a half kilometres away.

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