Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine is one of the oldest shrine
of India, located at a height of 5300 feet on the holy Trikuta Hills of the
Shivalik Hill Range. The Holy cave is 13 Kms from the Base Camp Katra. The Town
Katra is 50 Kms away from Jammu and 35 Kms from District HQ Udhampur and is
linked by road. The Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine is one of the most popular Shrines
of India.
The Goddess Vaishno Devi's abode is in 100 feet long cave with a narrow opening.
The holy cold and crystal clear water washes the lotus feet of the Mata's "Pindian".
There are three natural pindies representing Maha Sarswati, Maha Lakshmi, Maha
Kali, which represent creative, preservative, and destructive aspects of the
Super Power. It is an ancient shrine whose reference is found in the Vedas and
ancient scriptures.
History:
'Vaishnavi' means the one who is related to lord "Vishnu''. Goddess Vaishnavi
is the manifestation of the collective spiritual strengths of Mata Maha Kali,
Mata Maha Lakshmi and Mata Maha Saraswati. It is described in Durga Sapatshati
that the goddess was born as a young girl of extraordinary beauty and strength,
out of the collectively pooled 'Tejas' of various 'Devtas' and three lords Brahma,
Vishnu and Shankar. The immediate purpose of the creation of the goddess was
the annihilation of Asura (Devil) Mahishasura. However another purpose of her
creation was that she might usher on earth an era of pious and ascetic life
so that the peace could prevail upon the world and she through her penance could
rise to higher levels of spirituality and ultimately merge with Vishnu.
The 'Goddess' having been created by the Devtas and the three lords ordained
the human form in the house of one Ratnakar as his daughter whom the family
named as 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 only could bring her close to her greater objective.
Vaishnavi thus relinquished all household comforts and went deep into the forest
for Tapasaya (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 to merge
her into himself 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 will visit her again after the end of his exile and at that time if
she succeeded in recognizing him, he will fulfill her wish. True to his words,
Rama visited her again after being victorious in the battle, but this time he
did so in the guise of an old man. Unfortunately, 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 not come and he will
eventually do so in 'Kaliyug' in his incarnation of 'Kalki'. Rama also directed
her to meditate and set up an Ashram at the base of Trikuta hills to elevate
her level of spirituality so as to bless the mankind and rid the poor and destitute
of their sufferings and only then will 'Vishnu' merge her into himself.
The 'Goddess' having been created by the Devtas and the three lords ordained
the human form in the house of one Ratnakar as his daughter whom the family
named as 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 only could bring her close to her greater objective.
Vaishnavi thus relinquished all household comforts and went deep into the forest
for Tapasaya (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 to merge
her into himself 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 will visit her again after the end of his exile and at that time if
she succeeded in recognizing him, he will fulfill her wish. True to his words,
Rama visited her again after being victorious in the battle, but this time he
did so in the guise of an old man. Unfortunately, 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 not come and he will
eventually do so in 'Kaliyug' in his incarnation of 'Kalki'. Rama also directed
her to meditate and set up an Ashram at the base of Trikuta hills to elevate
her level of spirituality so as to bless the mankind and rid the poor and destitute
of their sufferings and only then will 'Vishnu' merge her into himself.
