Mata Vaishno Devi Temple, Katra, Jammu & Kashmir

The holy shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi is situated at a distance of fourteen kilometers from Katra. From Katra, one has to trek uphill to reach the destined shrine. Located atop Mount Trikuta, the Vaishno Devi temple is considered to be one of the holiest places in India. There is also an influx of foreign tourists, apart from the domestic pilgrims turning out in hundreds, to get a darshan of the holy Mata. Zest for the unknown attracts the adventurous foreigners, since there's a lot unexplained phenomenon and myths that surround Vaishno Devi Temple. For instance the natural rock formation or pindies, as they are popularly called, leaves one dumbfounded. The rock forms of Laxmi, Kali, and Saraswati are the only idols that one can find in the shrine.

The shrine of Vaishno Devi is not the last point of pilgrimage. One has to travel uphill to Ban Ganga, where it is believed that, the divine Mata quenched her thirst. A six kilometers travel further, will bring you face to face with another shrine, Ardhkunwari. Mythology says that, Mata Vaishno Devi hid in this cave while trying to elude a demon. Tours to Vaishno Devi Katra is replete with mythology all the way. Perchance it is the quality of mythology that gives the whole place a mystical charm of its own.

Most Hindu traditions believe that the Vaishnodevi Temple is the holiest of all the ‘Shaktipeeths’ – places of worship dedicated to Goddess Shakti. Vaishnodevi Temple is also the second most visited temple in India after the Tirumala Venkateshwara Temple in Andhra Pradesh.

This 13-kilometre route between Katra and Bhawan is a steep hilly terrain with scenic splendours along the way.
1.Banganga: One kilometre from Katra, at a height of 2800 feet is Banganga – the first stop of the Yatra where pilgrims could take a holy-dip in the Banganga River. According to the Hindu mythology, Goddess Shakti shot an arrow into the ground at this site a spring of water gushed out which was later named the Banganga. ‘Prasad’ is offered here for free to all visitors which is hosted by the Indian Music House – T-Series. At this point the Yatra-passes / slips are checked by the security personnel in order to allow you to pass through.

2.Charanpadhuka: 2.5 kilometres from Banganga, at a height of 3380 feet is the second stop - Charanpadhuka Temple where Legend has it that Goddess Vaishno Devi halted to rest but as she was chased by Bhairav Nath, goddess Vaishno left the impressions of her feet on the rock while escaping from Bhairav Nath. This place houses the footprint of the Goddess and therefore the place got its name.

3.Adkuwari: 3 kilometres from Charanpadhuka, at a height of 4800 feet is the third stop - Adkuwari Temple – where the Goddess is said to have hid from the Bhairon Nath for months. Adkuwari is also known as Garbh Joon. This point is midway to the Vaishnodevi Temple. One can break the journey here and stay overnight here. At Adkuwari, you can have Darshan of Adkuwari Temple and Gerbhjoon - an ancient Cave of about 20 feet length.

4.Sanjichat: 4 kilometres steep climb from Adkuwari, at a height of 6200 feet is the fourth stop and the highest point of the Yatra. From this point one can have aerial views of Katra, Udhampur Reasi and Jammu.

5.Vaishno Devi Temple: 2.5 kms downhill from Sanjichat, at a height of 5300 feet is the final destination - Mata Vaishnodevi’s Cave Temple in Bhawan. It is said that Goddess Vaishnodevi revealed herself here in the form of three heads of natural rock (with a common base) called the ‘Holy Pindies’. The rock base is immersed in water. The ‘Darshan’ is that of the three heads. There are no other idols or pictures inside the temple that are worshipped. The cave is 30 meter long and just one and a half meter high so visitors would have to crawl their way into the cave temple. This temple is open round the clock and every single day of the year.

Goddess Vaishnodevi is said to be an incarnation of the combined supreme energies of Goddess Kali (force of dissolution), Goddess Lakshmi (force of prosperity and wealth), and Goddess Saraswati (supreme force of creation). About 2 kilometres from the Vaishnodevi Temple is Bhairon Nath’s temple where it is believed that Bhairon Nath was finally slain by Goddess Vaishnodevi.
 
The Temple Priests begin the Puja of Goddess Vaishnodevi in the wee hours before dawn when the Goddess is bathed in water, milk, ghee, honey and sugar and is dressed-up in a saree, chola,  chuni and ornaments – all along chanting various ‘Shlokas’ and Mantras. Then the ‘Tilak’ is placed on the forehead of the deity and ‘Prasad’ is offered to her. A divine lamp – the Jyoti is lit and then the Aarti of the goddess is performed. The ‘Aarti’ of Goddess Vaishnodevi is performed twice a day at twilight – just before dawn and just after dusk. The Aarti is an elaborate Hindu ritual of worship where devotional ‘Aarti’ songs are sung while several lighted wicks are offered to the deity in a slow and graceful circulating manner. Once the Aarti inside the cave is done the Priests perform the same outside the cave at the entrance in the presence of the eagerly waiting pilgrims outside. After performing the ‘Puja’ and the ‘Aarti’, the Priests distribute ‘Prasad’ and the ‘Charanamrit’ (the holy water) to the devotees. The Priests take two hours to perform the ritual of ‘Aarti’ during which time the ‘Darshan’ of the Goddess Vaishnodevi is suspended. Interestingly, during this time when the cave temple is vacant, all maintenance work is done by the temple authorities as this is the only time they find the cave vacant in the whole day.

Recently, the Shrine Board has introduced 4 categories of individualized Pujas called the ‘Shradha Suman Vishesh Puja’ where the devotee is not worshipping the deity in a crowd but is made to perform the Puja individually with the help of the priests. These Pujas cost between Rs. 16,000 and Rs. 75,000 and entail Aarti Darshan, Prashad, accommodation in one of the Shrine Board accommodation units and meals during the stay.