| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
VAISHNO
DEVI
MATA
-
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
Katra Town, lying in the foot of Trikuta Mountains, 48 kms. from
Jammu, serves as the base camp for visiting the famous shrine of
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, which is approachable on foot along a 13 kms
long well laid footpath. Every year, more than 4.5 million pilgrims
pass through Katra on their way to the holy shrine.
The cave shrine of Mata Vasihnodeviji or Trikuta Bhagwati (alt:
5,200 ft.) has been a beacon of faith and fulfilment to millions of
devotees from all over the world. The pilgrimage to the Shrine holds
great significance for the pilgrims.
|
 |
The Legend of Mata Vaishnodeviji:
Everyday of the year throngs of people surge up the steep pathways
that cut across the Trikuta hillsides for mile after mile. This show
of faith is finely interwoven with the cultural strands of the
Indian subcontinent, and these pathways have been trod on for many
centuries now. Popular belief holds that anybody who walks the
Himalayan trail to the goddesses's abode to ask for a boon rarely
goes back disappointed. Whatever be it, a new enterprise or a
forthcoming examination, marriage or birth, the devout look up to
the Mata For blessings and guidance. There are many who journey year
after year to pay obeisance regardless of their faith or belief,
creed or class, caste or religion.The Yatra to the holy shrine is as
fascinating as the legend associated with it. It goes that thousands
of years ago, a comely maiden called "Vaishnavi" have been created
by the three lords attained human form and was a devotee of Lord
Vishnu. Having taken a vow of celibacy, she spent almost all her
life in meditation and prayers. In time she attained enormous
spiritual powers and is believed to have extracted an assurance from
Lord Rama that he will marry her in Kali-Yug if she persisted in her
spiritual quest. This is why she is also known as Adh Kanwari or the
"eternal virgin".
Mata Vaishno Devi established an ashram in the foothills of the
Trikuta Mountain and began to meditate. As predicted by Lord Rama,
her glory started spreading and people began to flock to her ashram
to seek her blessings. As time passed, a Tantrik called Gorakh Nath
(Demo God), who had a vision of the episode between Lord Rama and
Mata Vaishno Devi, became curious and wanted to know more about her.
Accordingly, he sent his most able disciple `Bhairon Nath' to find
out. Bhairon Nath started observing her secretly and realized that
despite being a `Sadhvi', she always carried a bow and arrows and
was always surrounded by langoor (apes) and a ferocious looking
lion. Bhairon, the demon God took a fancy to her. But the Mata
spurned his advances and fled to the Himalayas to continue her
spiritual quest. |
|
| |
On the way the goddess felt thirsty at Banganga and shot an arrow
into the earth from where water gushed out. Charan Paduka, which is
marked by the imprints of her feet, is the place where she rested.
The Goddess then meditated in the cave at Adh Kanwari. It took
Bhairon nine months to locate her, which is why the cave is known as
Garbh Joon. When the demon found her, Mata Vaishno Devi blasted an
opening at the other end of the cave with her trident and fled to
the Holy cave at Darbar (temple). However, Bhairon was persistent
and followed her there to harass her. Then goddess became very angry
and assuming the form of Mata Kali, beheaded Bhairon outside the
cave with the aid of the flying disc gifted to her by Lord Krishna.
The severed head of Bhairon fell at a distant hilltop. In his dying
moments, Bhairon begged and received divine forgiveness from the
goddess. Today, it is believed that the Yatra is not complete unless
the pilgrim has been to Bhairon ka Mandir (2.6 km from the main
sanctum) as well, after the darshan of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi.
The goddess herself took up permanent abode in a cave in the Trikuta
Mountains by metamorphosing herself in to three pindis (Rock). This
holy shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi is unique as it contains the
holiest of holy Pindis manifesting the Mata in her three forms -
Maha Kali, Maha Lakshmi and Maha Saraswati - each form representing
a particular attribute. Maha Kali represents Tamas Guna, Tamas
meaning darkness. In her manifestation of Kali the omnipotent,
absolute and all pervasive, she is said to be beyond fear and finite
existence and is therefore able to protect her devotees against fear
and to give them limitless peace. Maha Lakshmi represents Rajas
Guna, Rajas meaning prosperity. In this manifestation, the goddess
blesses her devotees with wealth and prosperity for living a better
life. Maha Saraswati represents Sattav Guna, Sattav meaning wisdom
and knowledge. This manifestation enables her devotees to
distinguish between good and bad and helps them to adopt the right
path in life. The combination of these three attributes in a single
Shakti is a unique combination, which is what makes it, revered all
over the world.
WHAT TO REMEMBER -
Obtain a yatra slip only from the yatra registration counter at the
Tourist Reception Centre at the Katra bus stand and nowhere else.
Without an authentic yatra slip, crossing of the Ban Ganga check
post is not permitted.
Fellow pilgrims are bound to you by their faith in the Mata. Avoid
playing transistors or tape recorders too loudly or creating
blockage or hindrances in the passages meant for circulation of the
yatris.
Qualified doctors are available at the Primary Health Centre, Katra
and at the dispensaries at Adhkawari and Bhawan, round the clock.
They are also available at the evening clinic at Katra bus stand;
open 2 p.m to 8 p.m. Medical Aid Centres run by the SMV Shrine Board
provide necessary assistance to the pilgrims at the Katra bus stand,
Banganga and Sanji Chhat.
The Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMV Shrine Board) runs a large
number of cafeterias and viewing points along the trail between
Katra and the shrine where snacks, coffee and cold drinks are
provided to the yatris on a no-profit-no-loss basis. The Shrine
Board also runs 'bhojanalyas' at Katra, Adhkawari, Sanji Chhat and
at the Bhawan / shrine for providing hygienically prepared food to
the yatris on a no-profit-no-loss basis.
Upon reaching the Bhawan, a group number is allotted to the pilgrims
at the slip ('parchi') counter against the yatra slip issued at
Katra. The yatri is required to stand in queue at Gate Number 2 till
the announcement of the group's number is made to proceed to the
sanctum sanctorum.
|
|
| |
SIGHT SEEING & EXCURSION :
Aghar Jitto :
Just 5 km away from Katra is Aghar Jitto, the Shrine of Baba Jitto,
a devotee of Mata Vaishno Devi and a revolutionary who led a
campaign against the feudal order. According to legends, a dip in
the holy spring water, flowing in front of the shrine, does miracles
to pre-natal women for safe delivery of children. A path from here
leads to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi.
Dera Baba Banda : At about 30 kms from Katra lies this major
Hindu-Sikh pilgrimage centre. Baba Banda Bairaagi was Guru Gobind
Singh's favourite 'Saint-soldier', who had the gurudwara constructed
on the banks of river Chenab, where he spent his last days.
Baba Dhansar : Located 10 kms from Katra (1 km on foot) is
Baba Dhansar, a beautiful and cool picnic spot. Here, a huge spring
gushes out of the mountainside in a thick grove of trees and forms a
number of small waterfalls before flowing into the holy Banganga.
Next to the spring in a small grove in the rock face is a naturally
formed 'Shivling' on which droplets of water fall naturally all the
year round. A major 'mela' (fair) is held here during Shivratri.
Shiv Khori : This holy cave is nearly a kilometre long and
houses a 4 ft high, naturally formed 'Shivling'. It is considered
second only to the shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi in religious
importance. There are stalactites & stalagmites dripping milky
limestone water from the ceiling. Situated at a distance of about
100 kms from Jammu and about 75 kms from Katra, Shiv Khori hosts a
major fair on Shivratri day every year.
|
|
| |
Accessibility :
Air : Nearest Airport is at Jammu (56kms). Indian Airlines
operates scheduled services between Jammu & Delhi and Jammu &
Srinagar/Leh. Select One Flight Schedules Seat Availability Arrival/
Departure PNR Status Fares. Jet Airways also operates regular
services between Jammu & Delhi and Jammu & Srinagar.
Rail : Jammu Tawi (Nearest Railhead) is an important railhead
of the Northern India.
Road :
Jammu is on National Highway 1-A and is connected by the highway
network to all parts of the country. Besides the J&K State Road
Transport Corporation (J&K SRTC) the road transport corporations of
Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Chandigarh. Some
important road distances from Jammu are: Amritsar (243 kms),
Chandigarh (436 kms), Delhi (586 kms), Katra (48 kms), Srinagar (305
kms), Manali (428 kms), Patnitop (108 kms), Mansar (62 kms).
Local Transport :
The distance from Katra town to Vaishno Devi (Durbar) is 13 kms,
which has to be traversed by pony, 'dandi' or on foot. 'Pithus'
(coolies) are also available.
Helicopter Service :
Pawan Hans operates two flights daily from Jammu and 5 flights from
Katra to Shrine. Capacity: 6 persons per flight.
Accommodation (Katra):
-
Hotel Asia
Vaishnodevi
-
Hotel Asia
Shripati
-
Subhash
International
-
Hotel
Shraddha
-
Hotel Durga
-
Hotel Maa
Residency
-
Country Inn
Resort
-
Kashmir
Residency
|
|
