DN Darshan: Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji, Jammu

dynamitenews.com
Jammu/ 07 Jan. Residing in a holy cave, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji is one of the holiest pilgrimages across the country. It is believed that the Mata fulfills whatever her children wish for. Located in the folds of the three peaked mountain named Trikuta 12 km away from Katra in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, the Holy Cave attracts millions of devotees every year. 

As the Cave is situated at an altitude of 5200 feet, yatris have to undertake a trek of nearly 12 km from the base camp at Katra. There are no statues or idols inside the Cave, rather shape pof three natural formations called pindis are worshipped by the devotees.

Adhkuwari
Adhkuwari is the half way mark on the track as it is situated at a distance of nearly 6 km from Katra. It is one of the most important Darshans on the visit, second only to the main Darshans at the Holy Cave.

Bhairon Ghati
Bhairon temple is the next halt for the pilgrims after visiting the holy Shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi Ji. This old temple is significant because of a holy legend associated it. After beheading Bhairon Nath and after his profuse repentance, the Almighty Mother Goddess forgave and blessed him and granted him the boon that the Darshans of his temple would be the final link of Her Great Pilgrimage. The Temple area has been beautified by fixing marble tiles and slabs along the pre-ambulation of the temple. All these efforts have made the visit of the pilgrims to Bhairon temple much more convenient and memorable.

Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board
The shrine of Vaishno Devi is maintained by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. The Board has undertaken a number of developmental activities aimed at making the Yatra a comfortable and satisfying experience for the devotees. The Board continues to reinvest the offerings and donations received in carrying out improvements in various kinds of facilities for the devotees.

Vaishno Devi can be visited all through the year. However, months from May to July and the festivals of Chaitra and Sharad-Ashwin attract most number of visitors. The number of visitors decreases in December and January due to snowfall.

Helicopter Facility
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board also provides the Helicopter services that start from Katra on the foothills and the flight drops devotees at Sanjhichhat. The flight from Katra to Sanjhichhat takes around 10 minutes.

The History
Like with most old Shrines, it is not possible to ascertain when exactly the pilgrimage to the Holy Shrine started. A geological study of the Holy Cave has indicated its age to be nearly a million years. Vedic literature gives no reference to the worship of any female deity, although the mountain Trikuta does find its mention in Rigveda, the oldest of the four Vedas. The practice of worshipping Shakti, largely started in the Puranic period.

It is also believed that the Pandavs were the first to build the temples at Kol Kandoli and Bhawan in reverence and gratitude for the Mother Goddess. On a mountain, just 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 Pandavs.