Where is Vaishno Devi?
Vaishno Devi Cave shrine is nestled in the Trikuta mountains, 61 km north
of Jammu at an elevation of 5200 ft above sea-level in the state of Jammu
and Kashmir.
How will you gain access?
Jammu (48 km from Katra) is the nearest airport. Indian Airlines operates
flights from Delhi and Srinagar. Jammu is the nearest railway station which
is connected to places like Kolkata, Delhi and Kanyakumari. A large number
of State Bus Services have their terminus at Jammu. Buses leave for Katra
every 10 minutes from the main bus stand at Jammu.
What does it signify?
The Vaishno Devi cave shrine invites hordes of pilgrims from far and wide.
The sacred cave measures 30 m in length and 1½ m in height. The shrine
is accessible through Katra, which is located at a distance of 13 km from
the shrine. Katra is the base for the pilgrimage. From Katra, pilgrims climb
up 1 km to Banganga where the goddess is said to have stopped for drinking
water. Moving ahead 6 km, one arrives at the shrine called Ardhkuwari, where
the goddess is believed to have meditated for a span of nine months. Bhawan,
a halt for the devotees for wash and change, lies just before the actual
shrine.
The Vaishno Devi shrine is dedicated to Vaishnavi, the human manifestation
of goddess Shakti. It is said took the form of a human to achieve her
destiny of finally merging with Lord Vishnu. Vaishnavi, as a young girl,
displayed an extensive thirst for knowledge. She could find no answers to
his questions and finally learned the art of meditation. Having realised the
essence and importance of meditation or Tapasya, Vaishnavi renounced the
worldly comfort and went into the forest to meditate in solitude. While in
the forest, Vaishnavi came across Rama who was in exile. Rama advised her to
establish an Ashram at the base of the Trikuta Hills and go on with her
self-mortification.
What beckons devotees?
» The Yatra
The Yatra begins at Katra and the pilgrims have to cover a distance of 13
km to reach the Darbar. One kilometre away from Katra is Banganga, where
Mata is said to have quenched her thirst. Moving 6 km further down, one
arrives at Adhkuwari, the holy cave. Pilgrims wash and change at Bhawan
before finally entering the cave shrine.
» The Darshan
At Bhawan, pilgrims buy Prashads (Offering to the God) and other offerings.
Here is issued a token no. on producing the Yatra ticket. The token provided
bears the group no. and the time for the Yatri's turn. The pilgrims have to
enter individually, for the tunnel to the shrine is very narrow and needs
care. However, they return via a different route that takes them to the
shrine of Bhairon.
» The Cave
The cave measures about ninety-eight feet in length. Here one can observe
symbols of the pantheon of Indian gods. On the left hand side at the mouth
of the tunnel one can also see the symbol of Vakra Tunda Ganesha. Crawling
into the holy cave through the natural tunnel, one crosses over the Dadh of
Bhairo Nath, who was beheaded by the Goddess. As you move further wading
through the water you come across a number mystical signs and symbols
relating to the Hindu mythology.
» The Pindis
Goddess
Shakti, in her incarnation of Vashnavi, resides in the cave in a petrified
rock-form. Here she is manifested in her three forms- Maha Lakshmi, Maha
Kali and Maha Saraswati. These are the ultimate destination for the pilgrims
and are located 91 feet inside the cave.
» The Aartis
The Arti (Worshipping) of the Mata is performed twice daily- at sunrise and
at sunset. The cave remains closed for the period the Arti is performed. The
Arti usually takes two hours to complete. During the session, only the
Pujaris, the Sahayaks and an officer is allowed inside. Mantras are chanted
and Atam Pooja, for their own purification, is performed.
What is the best time?
March to April and September to October is the Yatra season. The best time
to visit is between the months of March and July.
