JAI
MAATA DI: The Holy Shrine of Vaishno Devi
" Ya Devi Sarvabhureshu Shaktirupena Samsthita Namastasyai Namaseasyai
Nama stasyai
Namo Namah"
(That Devi who is present as Shakti (Power) in all beings - I bow to her
again and again and
again.)
-Durgasaptasati
"JAI KAARA SHERANWALI KA: BOL SAANCHE
DARBAAR KI JAI"
Great Himalayas have been the abode of gods and here once walked
gods and sages and in their persuance,
centuries later, devotees follow to seek salvation and pay homage
at intermittent shrines marked by events
of magnitude on their perambulation. Among these
shrines dedicated to various gods and goddesses scattered all over
the Himalayan and sub-Himalayan belt,
Mata Vaishno Devi shrine near Katra
in Jammu, is the most popular and those who have visited there in
faith
speak of the returns on their labor, proof and manifestation of
the
all seeing power that metes out justice to the wanting and the fair.
Jammu region
appears like a celestial land, for here are found a large number of
magnificent
temples and abodes of gods and goddesses. The most prominent among them
is the holy cave of Vaishno Devi, situated in a charming recess of the
three silent pinnacles of
the Trikuta mountain at an altitude of 5,000 feet. The shrine of Vaishno
Devi has the same place in
Jammu as that of Amamath Ji in Kashmir. Both are Cave shrines but whereas
the Amarnath
Cave is visited on Ashadand Sravana Poornamashi only, the pilgrimage
to Vaishno Devi extends over the whole year.
The
worship of the Goddess goes back to the time of the Indus Valley Civilization,
that is, about 3,000 B.C.
The
Goddess is a personification of the all-pervading power (Maa Shakti) of
the all-powerful Lord. In India, the two have always been conceived of
asaunity, e.g. Purusha-Prakriti, Shiva-Parvati, Lakshmi-Narayan, Radha
-Krishna and Sita-Ram.
The
Goddess is one but the names are many. She is the 'Aditi'- mother of gods;
she is 'Lakshimi', goddess of fortune; 'Saraswati', goddess of wisdom,
'Maha Kali', destroyer of the evil, 'Prithvi, goddess of earth; 'Shailaputri',
daughter of the Himalayas 'Annapoorna', goddess of food; and 'Siddhidattatri',
giver of Siddhi, success or perfection. She is also the 'Mahadevi' in
relation to Mahadeva. She is tile supreme knowledge, greatest good fortune
and supreme bliss. The shrine which attracts lakhs of pilgrims from all
over India and abroad every year, is situated some 39 miles north of Jammu
city.
The
Mythological History
The origin of the pilgrimage is shrouded in mystery. But that it is
an ancient shrine, there is no doubt. According to some scholars, Trikuta
hill and Vaishno Devi are mentioned in the Vedas and other ancient texts.
Be that as it may, a number of legends have grown round it.
It is said that one old man, named Shridhar, discovered the cave of Vaishno
Devi a very long time ago. He lived in a village called Hansali, about
two kilometres away from Katra town, situated at the bottom of the Trikuta
hill. He was a great devotee of the goddess and worshipped the little
girls or the 'KANJAKS' regularly. But he was deeply unhappy as he had no child of his own. The goddess took pity on him. She appeared
to him in a dream at night and revealed to him the cave where she had
her abode.
Next
day in the morning he set out in search of the cave and at last found
it. He entered into it and got the holy sight of the abode of Vaishno
Devi. Pandit Shridhar sang hymns in praise of Devi and whole-heartedly
worshipped her. The goddess was pleased with his devotion and granted
him the boon of four sons and said that his descendants would continue
to worship her. Hence, the descendants of Pandit Shridhar have been worshipping
the goddess inside the cave since that day.
Thereafter,
Pandit Shridhar made the neighboring people know about the holy cave and
thus the pilgrims started visiting the cave from all parts of the country
and from abroad as well.The
goddess is most benign and bountiful and grants the wishes of her devotees.
The
Piligrimage or "Yaatra"
The pilgrimage to the holy shrine particularly takes place during
the autumn Navaratras, i.e., the first nine days of the bright half of
the month of Assuj (October). Although the pilgrims to Vaishno Devi come
all the year round but the rush during the days of 'Navaratra' is so great
that one may have to wait a day or two to take one's turn to get into
the cave.
The
shrine is a natural cave in which on the raised portion of the rock platform,
are three
small images in form of 'pindis' of 'Maha-Saraswati', 'Maha-Lakshmi' and
'Maha-Kaali' representing the Creative, Preservative and Destructive aspects
of Divine Energy. "While the other shrines elsewhere symbolize one or
other aspect of the Divine Energy, Vaishno Devi embraces them all. This
gives it a distinction and prominence all its own. In fact, it is the
only shrine of its kind in the country."
The cave in which the goddess has taken her abode, is nearly a one
hundred feet long. But it is difficult of access. Inside it lies a huge
rock and a stream of crystal clear cold water issuing from a side of the
cave flows past it. The stream is known as Charan Ganga, or the Ganga
washing the lotus feet of the deity.
The
"Yaatra Begins......"
The pilgrims board the buses at Jammu and reach the little pastoral
town of Katra in two hours. While the buses move on the zigzag road the
pilgrims sing and shout slogan, "Jai Mata Di." At Katra the
pilgrims stay for the night. A pilgrim can stay in the Tourist Reception
Center, where dormitories are available at reasonable charges. In the
Tourist Hostel and the Dak Banglow too rooms are available on rent. Accommodation
is also available free of charges in Dharmarth Sarai, Shri Dhar Sabha
Sarai and Chintamani Sarai. There are a few hotels as well and many private
houses where rooms at normal rates are given.
Pehla
Darshan : "Kowl Kandoli Temple"
Situated in Nagrota, 13 kms from Jammu city towards north, Kowl Kandoli
temple is among the ancient temples of the city. The temple is related
to the Maata Vaishno Devi shrine and it is believed that Maata Vaishno
started her onwards to "Bhawan" from this place. According to
a popular belief, pilgrims should have Maatas first 'Darshans' in this
temple before proceeding towards 'Bhawan'.During 'Navratras' large number
of devotees throng the temple premises and a huge 'Bhandara' or the community
feast is also organized.
Katra has a long market where articles of daily use as well as articles for
worship and offerings are available. One can get canvas shoes, wooden
sticks, cameras, thermos bottles, umbrellas and torches, etc. on hire.
From Katra pilgrims go on upward journey on foot or on ponies. As one
goes up, one feels a strange, indescribable joy that keeps one going without
any discomfort. There is a great faith among the pilgrims about the beneficent
powers of the goddess and the pilgrims go on singing hymns in praise of
the goddess. They greet each other by saying "Jai Mata Di."
Starting from Katra one passes through "Darshani Darwaza". A gate,
constructed of stones, stands there and one can get a clear view of the
hills from here. Hence it is called Darshani Darwaza, a gate of the hill-site,
one
and a half kilometers away from Katra.
Dooja
Darshan: Baan Ganga
Going down for about a mile one crosses Baan Ganga, a stream associated
with Maa Vaishno Devi. Actually from this place the stiff ascent on the
Trikuta range starts. The pilgrims take a purificatory dip in this stream
before starting on the ascent. This place is about two and a half kilometers
distant from Katra at an altitude of 2,800 ft. above the sea-level.
Teesra
Darshan: Charan Paduka
About a mile ahead of Bal Ganga is Charan Padka. It is known after
the sandals of the goddess. There is a simple temple enshrining the footprints
of the goddess.
Chautha
Darshan: Adh Kanwari
In his ascent to the cave, the pilgrim comes to the important spot
of Adh Kanwari. A dharmshala built by the Dharamarth Trust at a
cost of Rupees four lakhs there can provide shelter to about one thousand
devotees of the goddess.
There
is a small temple and in the rocks there is a small opening or hole which
pilgrims pass. This is called "Gali-Yoni" or "Garbhjuoon" and passage through it is considered as a passport to moksha (salvation).
It is a marvellous small plateau where some pilgrims prefer to rest for
the night. This place contains a water tank, tea stalls, sweet shops and
a small hotel.From
Adh-Kanwari there is a steep ascent, almost perpendicular like the forehead
of an elephant. Hence the range is called "Hathi-Matha".
It is at a distance of 2.5 kilometers from Adh-Kanwari. The height here
is 6,500 feet above the sea level.
"Sanjhi
Chhet", the next stage, is the highest point on the track.
It is 7,215 feet above the sea-level and its distance from Ad-Kanwari
is 21/4 miles and almost six miles from Katra.
Antim
Darshan: Maa Ka Bhawan
From
Saanjhi chett, about a ascend of about 20 minutes, one is able to have
a first glimpse of "Vaishnav Durbar" which is situated in front
of the hillside. The pilgrims onseeing
the shrine raise the shouts: Jai Mata Di (Salutations to the Divine
Mother!), Sheranwali Mata teri sada hi jai (Salutations to the
Divine Mother whose mount is a lion), Sanchey Durbar Ki Jai (Obeisance
to the Sacred Darbar). The holy cave is about a hundred feet long and
so narrow that only one devotee can walk abreast. He has also to wade
through the ankle deep cold water coming through the cave. The atmosphere
in the cave is really inspiring and one is humbled by some mystic energy
there.
Bhairav
Ghati
There is a gradual ascend of about three-fourths of a mile from Sanji
Chhet to Bhairav Ghati, situated 6,148 feet above the sea-level.
Bhairav
Ghati has a small temple dedicated to the demon-god 'Bhairava', which
should be visited only after darshan of the goddess in the sacred cave.
The temple houses the head of the Bhairava while his petrified body is
stated to be inside the cave in the shape of the rock over which the pilgrims
have to crawl. It is a popular belief that the pilgrimage is not complete
without visiting the temple of Bhairava on one's return.
Vaishno Devi has commanded allegiance of people, rich and poor from early
times.
Developments
Dr. Karan Singh, the scion of the Dogra ruling dynasty, inaugurated
a new tunnel on 20th March 1977. Due to narrow entrance of the holy cave
of Vaishno Devi, the pilgrims had to wait for a long time to enter the
cave, until the devotees inside used to come out after having the holy
sight. The new tunnel through which the pilgrims come out has solved the
problem. Its length is 36.61 meters and height 2.2 1 meters.
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