About Mata Vaishno Devi
It is my humble opinion that nobody has the power of thinking, and words to express the truth of the SUPREME PERSONALITY of the Mata Vaishno Devi. As per the Legends, Mata Vaishno Devi was born out of the Tejas of the Divinity of Mata KALI, Mata LAKSHMI, and Mata SARASWATI. The three eternal ‘Shaktis’ manifested in the form of Mata Vaishno Devi, with an objective to establish Dharma and order on Earth. The DEVIS Blessed HER and told HER that SHE will merge with LORD VISHNU.
Soon, Mata Vaishno took Birth in the home of Ratnakar and his wife in the Southern part of India. Ratnakar and his wife named her Vaishnavi, and as a child SHE exemplified greater conscious levels. She was always interested in knowing about the divine meaning and divine aspects of life. HER quest for Knowledge eventually led HER to the paths of meditation and penance and SHE left HER home for achieving the true objective of life. SHE went into the deep forests to perform penance and meditation and get union with the LORD VISHNU.
LORD RAMA visited HER during HIS exile, and MAA VAISHNVI recognized HIM. SHE wanted to merge into VISHNU, but LORD RAMA said that HE will visit HER again and if SHE recognizes HIM, HE will accept HER. When LORD RAMA visited the MAA VAISHNAVI in the form of an old man at the end of 14 years of exile, MAA VAISHNO was unable to recognize HIM. SHE became very unhappy at her failure to recognize Lord Rama, but the LORD promised that HE will accept HER in the next incarnation/avatar of ‘LORD KALKI’ and advised HER to stay on the Earth and BLESS HER devotees, and establish Dharma and righteousness on Earth.
Mata Vaishno Devi moved to the North part of country and established HER ashram. Slowly word gained ground about HER powers and people came in hordes to get her BLESSINGS. ‘Bharion Nath’, a disciple of Gorakh Nath came to test HER divine powers and strength. Mata Vaishno Devi appeared in the vision of Pandit Shridhar and directed him to organize a Bhandara. During that Bhandara, ‘Bhairon Nath’ tried to grab HER and Mata Vaishno Devi decided to move further up in the mountains to continue HER meditation uninterrupted. ‘Bhairon Nath’ followed suit, and Mata Vaishno Devi moved from Banganga, Charan Paduka to Adhkuwari and then to the Bhawanal.
‘Bhairon Nath’ wanted to marry HER and followed HER to the Cave. At this point, Mata Vaishno Devi beheaded ‘Bhairon Nath’. ‘Bhairon Nath’ understood that Mata Vaishno Devi had divine powers and it was wrong on his part to have had wrong impressions for her. He prayed to HER that SHE grant HER the Moksha. Mata Vaishno Devi gave him a boon that anyone who visits HER shrine will have to do a Darshan of the temple of ‘Bhairon Nath’ on the return journey, otherwise his Yatra will be incomplete. And thus, devotees visit the Shrine to perform Darshans of the Mata Vaishno Devi, and then do a Darshan of ‘Bhairon Nath’ to perform the complete Yatra successfully.
Mata Vaishno Devi took the form of PINDIs after this and since then SHE BLESSES anyone who pays respects at the Cave shrine located in Katra, Jammu.
JAI MATA DI !!!
MAY THE MAA BLESS EVERYONE WITH NAAM, HEALTH, WEALTH AND MOKSHA.
History of the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine
Since time immemorial the Shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi has been a blessing for her devotees. As per historical references, the archaeologists believe that the Mata Vaishno Devi’s Holy Cave is a million years old. Although, the Trikuta mountain range finds its reference in the Rigveda, there is not much information available on the history and period of the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Katra, Jammu.
It is believed that on directions of Shri Krishna, Arjun sought the boon of victory before the battle of the Mahabharat. It is also believed that the Pandavas were the first to make a temple at ‘Kol Kandoli’ and offer prayers at the Bhawan.
Mata Vaishno Devi’s abode in the Holy Cave is one of the ‘Shaktipeeths’ and Mata Vaishno Devi blesses HER sons and daughters with everything.
As per the legends, Pandit Shridhar discovered this Holy Cave about 700 years back. It is said that the Mata Vaishno Devi asked Shridhar to organize a ‘Bhandara’ or ‘Langar’. Pandit Shridhar’s means were limited and although he organized the ‘Bhandara’, he was not sure how he will be able to feed the hungry. It was a blessing of the Mata Vaishno that all arrangements for the ‘Bhandara’ or the ‘Langar’ were taken care of automatically and Pandit Shridhar was able to feed the hungry and his villagers without any problems.. When Bhairon Nath tried to come after Mata Vaishno Devi, SHE disappeared; and after killing Bhairon Nath, SHE eventually decided to assume the form of ‘PINDIS’ to offer darshan to the devotees. Mata Vaishno Devi appeared in the vision of Shridhar and showed him the path to the Holy Cave. Pandit Shridhar spent his rest of life in spreading the message of Mata Vaishno Devi. It was through him, the Holy Cave became known to all.
Since that time, FAITH in the MAA has been strengthened by every passing minute. In 2019, 79.40 lakhs devotees visit the Shrine to seek the BLESSINGS of the MAA VAISHNO DEVI.
For more details about the History of Shrine, please feel free to visit the Shrine Board’s website.
JAI MATA DI
MAY THE MAA BLESS EVERYONE WITH NAAM, HEALTH, WEALTH & MOKSHA
About the Shrine Board
The MATA VAISHNO DEVI Shrine Board was established in the year 1986. It was setup under the Jammu and Kashmir Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Act, 1986. Ever since its establishment, the Board has worked steadfastly to develop the Shrine in one form or another. The entire 13 Km climb to the Holy Cave is maintained by the Shrine Board and apart from this, the Shrine Board tries to make the Yatra comfortable for all the devotees. With their present website, https://www.maavaishnodevi.org, you can even plan your Yatra well in advance.
Prior to the takeover, the management and control of the Shrine was with a private trust called the Dharamarth Trust and a group of traditional local residents called Baridars (so called because they collected their offerings as per their turn- bari) .The takeover was necessitated considering the poor state of things and the absence of facilities for the pilgrims. While the offerings were pocketed by the Baridars, the other incomes including rentals and royalties were taken by the trust. However, there were very few facilities for the Yatries. The pilgrims who reached the Holy town of Katra from all over India with devotion and faith in their hearts were often met with all kinds of hardships, insensitivity and mismanagement.
Under the provisions of the Act, the Administration, management and governance of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine and the Shrine Funds shall vest with a Board comprising Chairman and not more than ten members.
The Governor of the state of Jammu and Kashmir by virtue of his office is the ex-officio Chairman of the Board. He nominates nine members in the Board at the policy making level. The Board discharge its duty through a Chief Executive Officer who is assisted by the Addl. Chief Executive Officer and various Area Heads and Functional Heads.
Ever since the takeover the Shrine Board has continously strived hard to provide all possible facilities to the Devotees visiting the Holy Cave Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji. With the result, the yatra to the Holy Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji has increased tremendously, from 13.95 lakhs to 50.57 lakhs in the year 2001. This has been possible due to the blessings of the Divine and the all round efforts of the Shrine Board. Today the Shrine Board is recognized as one of the major service providing organization in the country. The efforts of the Shrine Board have been to make the Yatra to the Holy Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji a smooth and memorable experience. Efforts are still afoot to further improve the facilities for the Yatries and provide them state of the art facilities in every sphere.
DOs & DON’Ts of the Vaishno Devi Yatra
DOs of the Yatra
1. Carry light clothing on yatra route
2. Try to take fluids on the way. Prefer to take it through Shrine Board’s joints, as they are reasonable and clean.
3. Wear loose clothing & good shoes to help in comfortable Yatra. If you forgot carrying your Sports Shoes, you can get them on hire in Katra.
4. Chant HER NAAM – JAIMATADI – in your entire Yatra. SHE will make the YATRA effortless for you.
5. Whereever you offer cash, take a receipt.
6. Try to take rest at the Scenic points developed by the Shrine Board.
7. Try to keep the entire yatra route clean. Do not spit, do not throw litter on the way. If you see any litter on the way, spare a minute to put it in the dustbin.
8. Maintain peace on the route.
DON’Ts of the Yatra
1. Please do not smoke.
2. Do not indulge in gossip, try to concentrate on the MAA and HER DARSHANS.
3. Desist from carrying any tobacco or tobacco related product. Do not take any Gutka or Pan-Masala during Yatra.
4. Do not carry any camcorder. Video cameras will not be allowed beyond the Banganga Check post.
5. No sharp or pointed object allowed. Knives should not be carried at all.
6. No liquor/No Brandy.
7. Beggars should not be encouraged.
8. Avoid stairs if you are medically unfit.