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In order to visit the Holy Shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi Ji, one has to reach Katra, a small town situated around 50 kms. from Jammu, the winter capital of the state of Jammu & Kashmir. Katra serves as the base camp for the yatra. Katra is well connected to Jammu and Jammu, in turn, is well connected to the rest of the country by Air, Rail, and Road.  The
main Darshans are the three heads called the Holy Pindies. The uniqueness
of the Holy Pindies is that although they emanate from one single rock
form, each one is distinctly different from the other two in colour and
texture. The entire rock body is immersed in water, and a marble
platform has now been constructed all around.
The first mention of the Mother Goddess
is in the epic Mahabharat. It is also generally 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.
Some traditions believe this Shrine
to be the holiest of all Shaktipeeths (a place where the Mother Goddess,
the Eternal Energy has Her abode) since the skull of Mata Sati fell here.
Others believe that her right arm had fallen here. But some scriptures
do not agree with it. They do agree that at a place called Gandarbal in
Kashmir, the right arm of Sati had fallen. Nevertheless, in the Holy Cave
of Shri Mata Vaishno Deviji, one does find stone remains of a human hand,
popularly known as Varad Hast (the hand that grants boons and blessings).
The collective Tejas or spiritual
strength of Mata Maha Kali, Mata Maha Lakshmi and Mata Maha Saraswati coalesced
and a beautiful young girl emerged. The Devis explained to her that
they had created her so that she would live on earth and spend her time
in upholding righteousness. Once she had attained the appropriate level
of consciousness she will merge into Vishnu and become one with him.
She was soon born as a beautiful
girl child Vaishnavi, to Ratankar and his wife in southern India.
Vaishnavi relinquished all household comforts and went deep into the forest
for Tapasaya (meditation).
Lord Rama, during his fourteen years
of exile happened to visit Vaishnavi who recognized him immediately as
no ordinary being but the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, and immediately asked
him to merge her into himself so that she could become one with the supreme
creator. However Lord Rama, knowing that it was not the appropriate time,
dissuaded her by saying that he would visit her again after the end of
his exile, and at that time if she succeeded in recognizing him, he would
fulfill her wish. True to his words, Rama visited her again after being
victorious in the battle, but this time he did so in the disguise of an
old man. Unfortunately, Vaishnavi was unable to recognize him this time
and was distraught. Upon this, Lord Rama consoled her that the appropriate
time for her being one with the creator had not come, and that time would
come eventually in 'Kaliyug' when He (Rama) would be in his incarnation
of 'Kalki'. Rama also directed her to meditate, and set up an Ashram at
the base of Trikuta hills, to elevate her level of spirituality so as to
bless mankind and rid the poor and destitute of their sufferings.Only then
would 'Vishnu' merge her into himself. Vaishnavi, immediately set off for
the northern part and after immense hardships, reached the foot of the
Trikuta Hills. After reaching there she set up her ashram there and began
to meditate.
A Tantrik named Gorakh Nath sent
his most able disciple Bhairon Nath to observe Vaishnavi. He however
misbehaved and the goddess was compelled to kill him. Vaishnavi then
decided to shed off her human form and assuming the face of a rock she
immersed her self into meditation forever. Thus Vaishnavi, in the form
of a five and a half feet tall rock with three heads or the Pindies on
the top is the ultimate destination of a devotee. These Pindies constitute
the Sanctum Sanctorum of the holy cave known as the shrine of Shri Mata
Vaishno Devi Ji, which is revered by one and all.
The entire rock body is immersed
in water, and a marble platform has now been constructed all around. The
main Darshans remain to be of the three heads called the Holy Pindies.
The uniqueness of the Holy Pindies is that although they emanate from one
single rock form, each one is distinctly different from the other two in
colour and texture. Towards the right of the devotee is the Holy
Pindi of Mata Maha Kali (the Supreme Energy of Dissolution) in the colour
associated with Her i.e. black. In the centre is the Holy Pindi of Mata
Maha Lakshmi (the Supreme Energy of Maintenance) with a yellowish-red tinge.
The Pindi to the extreme left of the viewer is worshipped as the Holy Pindi
of Mata Maha Saraswati (the Supreme Energy of Creation). It has a whitish
tinge when looked at attentively.
The Holy Cave is around 98 feet long.
Besides the main Darshans of the Pindies inside the Cave, there are various
other Darshans, outside and inside the Holy Cave and around the Holy Pindies.
It is believed that the Darshans of 33 crore (330 million) Gods and Goddesses
are present in the Holy Cave. It is believed that at some given point of
time, each of the 330 million gods and goddesses have worshipped the Mother
Goddess in the Holy Cave and have left their symbolical marks inside. It
is also believed that during Poojan and Aarti in the morning and evening,
all these Gods and Goddesses arrive at the Holy Cave to pay their obeisance
to the Mother.
Source: https://www.maavaishnodevi.org Detailed information of other darshans at https://www.maavaishnodevi.org/holy_darshan-others.asp |