Vaishno Devi Overview
The Vaishno Devi Temple, also known as Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, is a Hindu pilgrimage site dedicated to the goddess Vaishno Devi, an embodiment of Goddess Durga.
It is located 5,200 feet above in the Trikuta Mountains. Jammu and Kashmir, about 13 km from Katra, and requires an uphill trek to reach.
Religious significance
Goddess Vaishno Devi: The temple is dedicated to Goddess Vaishno Devi, a manifestation of Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, and Mahasarasvati.
Shakti Peetha: It is recognized as one of the 108 Shakti Peethas.
The Vaishno Devi Temple history goes back several centuries and is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology. It is believed that Mata Vaishno Devi, an incarnation of Goddess Durga, meditated in a cave here for nine months. A demon named Bhairavnath tried to chase her, and in the final confrontation, the Goddess beheaded him. His shrine now stands near the temple as a mark of forgiveness.
According to the Varaha Purana, Vaishno Devi originated from Trikala, the goddess who was born from Trimurtis, and slayed the asura called Mahisasura on Satasrnga Parvata in the current Trikuta Dhama of Vaishnodevi.
In the Dvaparayuga Santana, Vaishno Devi is called "Maniki," the Sakti of Kalki, residing on Manika Parvata (also known as Trikuta). A geological study of the Holy Cave indicates its age to be nearly a milion years.
The Rigveda mentions the Trikuta hill, the place where the temple is located. The Mahabharata gives the account of the Pandavas and the Kurukshetra War, mentioning the worship of goddess Vaishno Devi. Before the Kurukshetra War, Arjuna worshipped Durga by the advice of Lord Krishna for the blessings. Pleased by his devotion, Mother Goddess appeared in front of him in the form of Vaishno Devi. The Pandavas were the first to bulid the temples at Kol Kandoli and Bhawan in reverence and gratitude for the Mother Goddess.
On a mountain adjacent to the Trikuta Mountain and overlooking the Holy Cave are five stone structures, which are believed to be the rock symbols of the five Pandavas. Bhairon Nath, a famous Hindu Tantric, saw the Vaishno Devi in a form of girl child at an feast at Pandit Sridhar house and wanted to catch her. Vaishno Devi fled into Trikuta hills to escape his advances, later she turned into her original form of Durga and cut off his head with her sword in a cave. S