Vaishno Devi (also known as Mata Rani, Trikuta, Ambe and Vaishnavi) is a manifestation of the Hindu Mother Goddess, Durga or Adi Shakti. The words "Maa" and "Mata" are commonly used in India for mother, and thus are often heavily used in connection with Vaishno Devi. Vaishnavi took avatar from the combined energies of Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, and Mahasaraswati. The temple is located in Katra, India.
Vaishno Devi
Mother Goddess; Goddess of hills
Inside view of the Holy Cave, the 3 Pindis; Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati
Shrine board token from the 1990s, depicting the 3 pindis that represent Vaishno Devi.
Author Abha Chauhan identifies Vaishno Devi with the power of Vishnu as well as the incarnation of Lakshmi.[1] Author Pintchman identifies with great goddess Mahadevi and says Vaishno Devi contains all powers and is associated with the entire creation as Mahadevi.[2] Pintchman further states that, "Pilgrims identify Vaishno Devi with Durga — whom North Indians (and others) also name Sheranwali, "the Lion-rider"— more than with any other goddess".[3]
Origin
According to Devi Bhagavata Purana, she is mentioned as Rudrasundari on Trikuta.[4] In Varaha Purana, she originated from Trikala (the goddess who was born from Trimurtis) and slayed an asura called Mahisha.[5]
Worship
The Appearance of Vaishno Devi to Shridhar and the story of Bhairav Nath
It is said that Bhairav Nath, a famous Tantric, saw the young Vaishno Devi at an agricultural fair and fell madly in love with her. Vaishno Devi fled into Trikuta hills to escape his amorous advances, later she assumed the form of Mahakali and cut off his head with her sword in a cave.[6] Professor and author Tracy Pintchman narrates the story as, "About nine hundred years ago Vaishno Devi appeared in the form of a young girl and commanded a Brahmin named Shridhar from the village Hansali (next to present day Katra) to hold a feast (bhandara) for local people near Bhumika stream. At the time of feast, Bhairav Nath, a disciple of Goraknath, appeared and demanded meat and liquor. But Vaishno Devi told him he would get only vegetarian food, since this was a Brahmin's feast. Seeing her, Bhairav Nath lusted after her. To escape him, she ran away stopping at various places on the trail up the Trikuta mountain. There places are now known as Banganga (Ganga river emerged from arrow), Charan Paduka (Holy footprints), Ardha Kunwari —the place where she is said to have remained for nine months in a cave, — and finally at Bhavan, the cave that is now known as her home. There taking the form of Chamundi (a form of Kali), she beheaded Bhairav Nath. His body held at the entrance to the cave, and his head landed further up the mountain at a place where a Bhairav Nath temple is now located. Bhairav Nath then repented, and the goddess granted him further salvation. In so doing, however, she laid down the condition that unless pilgrims coming for her darshana did not also get his darshana— that is, darshana of his head— then their pilgrimage would not be fruitful. Vaishno Devi later manifested into 3 small rocks (pindikas) and stays there to the present day. Shridhar began doing puja to the pindikas at the cave, and his descendants continue to do so even today".[7]
A view of Vaishno Devi Bhawan
Professor and author Manohar Sajnani says, According to Hindu beliefs, the original abode of Vaishno Devi was Ardha Kunwari, a place about halfway between Katra town and the cave. She meditated in the cave for 9 months just like how a baby stays in its mother's womb for 9 months.[8] It is said that when Bhairav Nath ran after Vaishno Devi to catch her. The Devi reached near a cave in the hill, she called up Hanuman and told him that "I would do penance in this cave for nine months, till then you should not allow Bhairav Nath to enter the cave." Hanuman obeyed the mother's orders. Bhairavnath was kept outside this cave and today this holy cave is known as 'Ardha Kunwari'.[9]
Pilgrims travel from the city of Jammu in Jammu and Kashmir to the village of Katra which is well connected by helicopter, rail and road. From Katra, starts the uphill journey to the Vaishno Devi Temple on foot. While on the way near the Trikuta mountain is the Banganga River. It is said that Vaishno Devi shot an arrow at the ground and brought forth the Ganga river to quench Hanuman's thirst. After Hanuman disappeared, Vaishno Devi washed her hair in the water. The Banganga river is also known as the Balganga river, since "Bal" means hair and "Ganga" is synonymous with the Holy Ganga river. Pilgrims must have a bath in the Banganga river to prove their purity. After Banganga is the Charan Paduka temple. Vaishno Devi stood on a rock to look at Bhairavnath before her escape and this rock supposedly contained her footprints. Her footprints are worshipped in this temple. After having a darshan of Charan Paduka, Pilgrims come across the Ardha Kunwari Temple. Vaishno Devi meditated in this cave for 9 months, just like how a baby stays in its mother's womb for 9 months, to escape Bhairav Nath. After having a darshan of Ardha Kunwari, the pilgrims go to the Bhairav Nath temple. It is said that after Vaishno Devi killed Bhairav Nath, Bhairav Nath realised his mistake and pleaded for forgiveness. Vaishno Devi blessed him by saying that if pilgrims did not have darshan of his head, their pilgrimage will not be fruitful. Pilgrims have a darshan of Bhairavnath's head before going to Bhavan, Vaishno Devi's Temple. Pilgrims go inside the temple to have a darshan of the 3 pindikas (rocks) which represent Vaishno Devi.
The Vaishno Devi Temple is an important Hindu temple dedicated to Vaishno Devi located in Katra at the Trikuta Mountains within the Indian Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.[10][11][12] The temple is one of the 108 Shakti Peethas dedicated to Durga, who is worshipped as Vaishno Devi.[13] It is one of the most visited pilgrimage centers of India. Every year millions of visitors visit the temple.[14][15] During festivals like Navaratri, the count even increases to one crore visitors.[16] Vaishno Devi Temple is one of the richest temples in India. Authors Michael Barnett and Janice Gross Stein says, "Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Jammu has an annual income of about $16 billion, mainly from offerings by devotees".[17]
The temple is sacred to all Hindus. Many prominent saints such as Vivekananda have visited the temple.[18]
Navratri and Diwali are the two most prominent festivals celebrated in the Vaishno Devi Temple. The temple was included in the Jammu & Kashmir state government Act No. XVI/1988, and known as Shree Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Act. The committee nominated by the state government administers the temple and has nine members on its board.
^www.wisdomlib.org (15 May 2013). "On the birth of Gaurī, the seats of the Deity, and the distraction of Śiva [Chapter 30]". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
^Manohar Sajnani (2001). Encyclopaedia of Tourism Resources in India, Volume 1. Gyan Publishing House. p. 158. ISBN9788178350172.
^Virodai, Yashodhara (5 October 2017). "Story of Mata Vaishnodevi". newstrend.news (in Hindi). Newstrend Network Communication Pvt Ltd. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
^Rindani, Kirit (2016). Indian Himalaya: Story of a 100 Visits. Partridge Publishing. p. 47. ISBN978-1482858860.
^S. S. Negi (1998). Discovering the Himalaya, Volume 1. Indus Publishing. p. 429. ISBN9788173870798.
^Kuldip Singh Gulia (2007). Mountains of the God. Gyan Publishing House. p. 15. ISBN9788182054202.
^"Famous Durga temples in India for religiously inclined souls". Times of India. 5 April 2019.
^"Vaishno Devi pilgrim footfall in 2019 lowest in 3 years: Shrine Board". Business Standard. 2 January 2020.
^"Vaishno Devi likely to receive 8.5 mn pilgrims by Dec 31; highest in 5 yrs". Business Standard. 29 December 2018.
^"Vaishno Devi-Bhairav Mandir ropeway service starts from today". Times of India Travel. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
^Michael Barnett; Janice Gross Stein (3 July 2012). Sacred Aid: Faith and Humanitarianism. Oxford University Press. p. 140. ISBN978-0199916030.
^Dipankar Banerjee; D. Suba Chandran (2005). Jammu and Kashmir: Charting a Future. Saṁskṛiti. p. 61. ISBN9788187374442.
External links
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Vaishno Devi.
Maa Vaishno Devi Shrine Board
January 26, 2023
vaishno, devi, confused, with, vaishnavi, matrika, goddess, temple, temple, also, known, mata, rani, trikuta, ambe, vaishnavi, manifestation, hindu, mother, goddess, durga, shakti, words, mata, commonly, used, india, mother, thus, often, heavily, used, connect. Not to be confused with Vaishnavi Matrika goddess For the temple see Vaishno Devi Temple Vaishno Devi also known as Mata Rani Trikuta Ambe and Vaishnavi is a manifestation of the Hindu Mother Goddess Durga or Adi Shakti The words Maa and Mata are commonly used in India for mother and thus are often heavily used in connection with Vaishno Devi Vaishnavi took avatar from the combined energies of Mahakali Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati The temple is located in Katra India Vaishno DeviMother Goddess Goddess of hillsInside view of the Holy Cave the 3 Pindis Mahakali Mahalakshmi and MahasaraswatiOther namesVaishnavi Mata Rani Ambe Trikuta Sherawali Jyotawali Pahadawali Durga Bhagvati JagdambaDevanagariव ष ण द व AffiliationMahadevi Mahakali Mahalakshmi MahasaraswatiAbodeVaishno Devi Temple Katra IndiaMountLion and TigerParentsRatnakarsagar and Samriddhi in SripuramConsortVishnu as Kalki during the end of Kaliyuga Contents 1 Legend 1 1 Origin 1 2 Worship 2 Pilgrimage route 3 Temple 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksLegend Edit Shrine board token from the 1990s depicting the 3 pindis that represent Vaishno Devi Author Abha Chauhan identifies Vaishno Devi with the power of Vishnu as well as the incarnation of Lakshmi 1 Author Pintchman identifies with great goddess Mahadevi and says Vaishno Devi contains all powers and is associated with the entire creation as Mahadevi 2 Pintchman further states that Pilgrims identify Vaishno Devi with Durga whom North Indians and others also name Sheranwali the Lion rider more than with any other goddess 3 Origin Edit According to Devi Bhagavata Purana she is mentioned as Rudrasundari on Trikuta 4 In Varaha Purana she originated from Trikala the goddess who was born from Trimurtis and slayed an asura called Mahisha 5 Worship Edit The Appearance of Vaishno Devi to Shridhar and the story of Bhairav NathIt is said that Bhairav Nath a famous Tantric saw the young Vaishno Devi at an agricultural fair and fell madly in love with her Vaishno Devi fled into Trikuta hills to escape his amorous advances later she assumed the form of Mahakali and cut off his head with her sword in a cave 6 Professor and author Tracy Pintchman narrates the story as About nine hundred years ago Vaishno Devi appeared in the form of a young girl and commanded a Brahmin named Shridhar from the village Hansali next to present day Katra to hold a feast bhandara for local people near Bhumika stream At the time of feast Bhairav Nath a disciple of Goraknath appeared and demanded meat and liquor But Vaishno Devi told him he would get only vegetarian food since this was a Brahmin s feast Seeing her Bhairav Nath lusted after her To escape him she ran away stopping at various places on the trail up the Trikuta mountain There places are now known as Banganga Ganga river emerged from arrow Charan Paduka Holy footprints Ardha Kunwari the place where she is said to have remained for nine months in a cave and finally at Bhavan the cave that is now known as her home There taking the form of Chamundi a form of Kali she beheaded Bhairav Nath His body held at the entrance to the cave and his head landed further up the mountain at a place where a Bhairav Nath temple is now located Bhairav Nath then repented and the goddess granted him further salvation In so doing however she laid down the condition that unless pilgrims coming for her darshana did not also get his darshana that is darshana of his head then their pilgrimage would not be fruitful Vaishno Devi later manifested into 3 small rocks pindikas and stays there to the present day Shridhar began doing puja to the pindikas at the cave and his descendants continue to do so even today 7 A view of Vaishno Devi Bhawan Professor and author Manohar Sajnani says According to Hindu beliefs the original abode of Vaishno Devi was Ardha Kunwari a place about halfway between Katra town and the cave She meditated in the cave for 9 months just like how a baby stays in its mother s womb for 9 months 8 It is said that when Bhairav Nath ran after Vaishno Devi to catch her The Devi reached near a cave in the hill she called up Hanuman and told him that I would do penance in this cave for nine months till then you should not allow Bhairav Nath to enter the cave Hanuman obeyed the mother s orders Bhairavnath was kept outside this cave and today this holy cave is known as Ardha Kunwari 9 Pilgrimage route EditThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed December 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message Pilgrims travel from the city of Jammu in Jammu and Kashmir to the village of Katra which is well connected by helicopter rail and road From Katra starts the uphill journey to the Vaishno Devi Temple on foot While on the way near the Trikuta mountain is the Banganga River It is said that Vaishno Devi shot an arrow at the ground and brought forth the Ganga river to quench Hanuman s thirst After Hanuman disappeared Vaishno Devi washed her hair in the water The Banganga river is also known as the Balganga river since Bal means hair and Ganga is synonymous with the Holy Ganga river Pilgrims must have a bath in the Banganga river to prove their purity After Banganga is the Charan Paduka temple Vaishno Devi stood on a rock to look at Bhairavnath before her escape and this rock supposedly contained her footprints Her footprints are worshipped in this temple After having a darshan of Charan Paduka Pilgrims come across the Ardha Kunwari Temple Vaishno Devi meditated in this cave for 9 months just like how a baby stays in its mother s womb for 9 months to escape Bhairav Nath After having a darshan of Ardha Kunwari the pilgrims go to the Bhairav Nath temple It is said that after Vaishno Devi killed Bhairav Nath Bhairav Nath realised his mistake and pleaded for forgiveness Vaishno Devi blessed him by saying that if pilgrims did not have darshan of his head their pilgrimage will not be fruitful Pilgrims have a darshan of Bhairavnath s head before going to Bhavan Vaishno Devi s Temple Pilgrims go inside the temple to have a darshan of the 3 pindikas rocks which represent Vaishno Devi Temple EditMain article Vaishno Devi Temple The Vaishno Devi temple in 2008 The Vaishno Devi Temple is an important Hindu temple dedicated to Vaishno Devi located in Katra at the Trikuta Mountains within the Indian Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir 10 11 12 The temple is one of the 108 Shakti Peethas dedicated to Durga who is worshipped as Vaishno Devi 13 It is one of the most visited pilgrimage centers of India Every year millions of visitors visit the temple 14 15 During festivals like Navaratri the count even increases to one crore visitors 16 Vaishno Devi Temple is one of the richest temples in India Authors Michael Barnett and Janice Gross Stein says Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Jammu has an annual income of about 16 billion mainly from offerings by devotees 17 The temple is sacred to all Hindus Many prominent saints such as Vivekananda have visited the temple 18 Navratri and Diwali are the two most prominent festivals celebrated in the Vaishno Devi Temple The temple was included in the Jammu amp Kashmir state government Act No XVI 1988 and known as Shree Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Act The committee nominated by the state government administers the temple and has nine members on its board See also EditJag Janani Maa Vaishno Devi Kahani Mata Rani Ki Matrikas Vaishnodevi Temple Rourkela Hariyali Devi Vaishno Devi Temple located in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand Shri Mata Vaishno Devi UniversityReferences Edit Chauhan 2021 p 154 sfn error no target CITEREFChauhan2021 help Pintchman 2001 p 62 sfn error no target CITEREFPintchman2001 help Pintchman 2001 p 63 sfn error no target CITEREFPintchman2001 help www wisdomlib org 15 May 2013 On the birth of Gauri the seats of the Deity and the distraction of Siva Chapter 30 www wisdomlib org Retrieved 6 December 2022 Veda Vyasa The Varaha Purana in English Journal of Religious Studies Volume 14 Department of Religious Studies Punjabi University 1986 p 56 Pintchman 2001 p 60 sfn error no target CITEREFPintchman2001 help Manohar Sajnani 2001 Encyclopaedia of Tourism Resources in India Volume 1 Gyan Publishing House p 158 ISBN 9788178350172 Virodai Yashodhara 5 October 2017 Story of Mata Vaishnodevi newstrend news in Hindi Newstrend Network Communication Pvt Ltd Retrieved 5 June 2021 Rindani Kirit 2016 Indian Himalaya Story of a 100 Visits Partridge Publishing p 47 ISBN 978 1482858860 S S Negi 1998 Discovering the Himalaya Volume 1 Indus Publishing p 429 ISBN 9788173870798 Kuldip Singh Gulia 2007 Mountains of the God Gyan Publishing House p 15 ISBN 9788182054202 Famous Durga temples in India for religiously inclined souls Times of India 5 April 2019 Vaishno Devi pilgrim footfall in 2019 lowest in 3 years Shrine Board Business Standard 2 January 2020 Vaishno Devi likely to receive 8 5 mn pilgrims by Dec 31 highest in 5 yrs Business Standard 29 December 2018 Vaishno Devi Bhairav Mandir ropeway service starts from today Times of India Travel Retrieved 25 December 2018 Michael Barnett Janice Gross Stein 3 July 2012 Sacred Aid Faith and Humanitarianism Oxford University Press p 140 ISBN 978 0199916030 Dipankar Banerjee D Suba Chandran 2005 Jammu and Kashmir Charting a Future Saṁskṛiti p 61 ISBN 9788187374442 External links Edit Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Vaishno Devi Maa Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vaishno Devi amp oldid 1132075053, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
