The most famous temple in our country, lakhs of visitors come to this temple to offer their prayers. The second-most visited Hindu pilgrimage destination in India is Mata Vaishno Devi Cave Temple, which is situated in the Trikuta Hills in Katra, Jammu & Kashmir. Hindu devotees from all over the world visit this popular religious site where the Goddess or Mata Vaishno Devi is said to fulfill their wishes. This religious place is considered the most important and prominent Shaktipeeth as it is believed that here the skull of the Goddess Sati fell.
In this temple, Vaishno Devi temple, the goddess is standing in the form of a five and a half feet tall rock which has three heads called Pindies. On this journey, devotees offer chunri of red in color, sarees, dry fruits, silver, or gold ornaments, flowers, Cholas, etc to Mata Vaishno Devi.
Historically, Mata Vaishno Devi temple was built in 1986 and since then this most popular religious site in Jammu started to attract thousands of, lakhs of tourists every day. There is a holy cave of Mata Vaishno Devi which is said to have been discovered by Pandit Sridhar who was a Hindu Priest. Goddess Vaishnavi came into his dream and instructed him on how to find that cave on Trikuta Hills. The priest has followed the goddess’s instructions and heads out for the journey of that dream, to find the cave as instructed. Then, the goddess herself appeared in front of him and blessed him with four sons and she also gave him the boon of being the custodian of the cave, and till today Pandit Shridhar’s descendants followed this commitment.
Moreover, legends say that Mata Vaishno Devi was born as Vaishnavi and asked by the goddess who created her to live and spend her time by attaining a high level of consciousness. She was then later director by Lord Rama to set up an Ashram at the base of Trikuta Hills, meditate and grow religiously, and she did as per she was instructed to do so.
When the goddess started to stay on the Hills in Katra, the Mahayogi Guru Goraksh Nathji sent his disciple, Bhairon Nath to test if the goddess had attained a higher level of spirituality or not. However, Bhairon Nath lost his sense of purpose and fell in love with her, then he started to annoy her to marry him forcefully.
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To continue her meditation or tapasya undisturbed, she fled to the mountains but she was chased by Bhairon Nath. Then, the goddess killed him and while dying, he realized his mistake and asked for forgiveness. Later, Mata Vaishno Devi just not forgave him, but also gave him a boon that each devotee performing a pilgrimage needs to have the Darshan of Bhairon after the goddess, only then their journey would be complete, meanwhile, their journey is incomplete if they do not offer their prayer to Bhairon after her.
Devotees have to trek 13km to reach the Mata Vaishno Devi temple, but for those who are unable to walk, there are ponies available for them. This 13km trek from Katra town leads to the Mata Vaishno Devi site where the goddess manifests herself in the natural rock formation called holy Pindies in the cave. A tunnel is used by the devotees to reach the cave, but due to its narrowness, two new tunnels are built that help in the swift movement of pilgrims who come in long queues here.
A ropeway is also been made between Mata Vaishno Devi Cave and Bhairon Ghati. However, Mata Vaishno Devi Temple is open throughout the year. If anyone wants to visit at the best time that is between March and October.
