The Mata Vaishno Devi Temple is located in the Trikuta Hills of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Nestled in beautiful surroundings, Mata Vaishno Devi is a manifestation of the Hindu Mother Goddess Devi. Millions of people visit this temple every year to pray. There are reportedly 33 Koti deities in this mountainous area. All 33 Koti deities have visited Vaishno Mata and left their imprints in the temple. Moreover, these deities are believed to mark their presence in the cave during Pooja and Aarti. Stay till the end to learn the hidden facts about the Mata Vaishno Devi temple.
Mata Vaishno Devi is mentioned in the epic Mahabharata
According to the Mahabharata epic, there was a fierce conflict when the Pandavas and Kauravas clashed. Arjuna was instructed by Lord Krishna to invoke Goddess Durga for success. At this time, Arjuna prayed to the Devi who constantly inhabits the mountain in Jamboo: “Jambookatak Chityaishu Nityam Sannihilaye.” The Pandavas finally won the battle, and they acknowledged Mata’s role in it. So they decided to build Trikuta, a temple, next to the peak. The Vaishno Mata temple was then built from five-rock structures resembling the Pandavas.
Origin of the Mata Vaishno Devi Temple
Like many other temples in India, the origin of the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine is still unknown. According to geological analysis, this sacred cave is about one million years old. This sacred cave was first mentioned in the Mahabharata epic. Many studies have been done on these caves, but it has been impossible to determine the exact beginnings of the temple. While there are many different accounts of the origin of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi. It is generally believed that this shrine was discovered over 700 years ago.
Mata Vaishno Devi in the form of a rock
Legend has it that the Goddess left her human form and took the form of a rock to be able to meditate uninterruptedly after she had pardoned Bhairo Nath and enabled him to attain moksha. Hence, Mata Vaishno Devi grants her devotees a glimpse of herself in the form of a five-and-a-half-foot rock with three Pindies or heads perched on the top. The Pindies form the holy of holies and the cave where she underwent her transformation is now Vaishno Devi’s sacred temple.
The original cave of the Mata has been closed for several years
There are three caves in this temple, one of which has been closed for many years due to its length and the difficulty of seeing the goddess from a greater distance. People have built the last two caves to make it easier to visit Mata. This allows pilgrims to flow freely over the cave. The yatra path, the old route to Vaishno Devi, was too narrow in the early 1900s to handle the crowds that flooded it. Therefore, the mountain was split in half to create additional space for the construction of a new road at Ardh Kuwari (the midpoint of the route).
The body of Bhairo Nath in the cave
The ancient cave where the shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi is located is very significant. It is said that the body of Bhairo Nath, whom the goddess murdered with her Trishul, is kept in this cave. According to mythology, after being beheaded by Vaishnavi Devi, the head of Bhairo Nath flew to the Bhairav valley while the rest of his body remained in the cave.
Lord Rama’s role in the popularity of Mata Vaishno Devi
You may be curious about the meaning of Vaishno Devi and the role Lord Rama played in the narrative. You may be shocked to learn that Mata Vaishno Devi celebrated Navratri to pray for Lord Rama’s victory over Ravana. Lord Rama ensured that the whole world would worship her as Mata Vaishno Devi as a token of gratitude. So the immortality of Mata Vaishno Devi and the fact that her temple is such a significant destination for Indian pilgrims are both due to the grace of Lord Rama.
The call of the Mata
The call of the Mata heralds the beginning of the journey to this holy shrine. The pilgrims firmly believe that Maa Vaishnavi summons their children and that they are then compelled to come to the shrine wherever they may be. Moreover, it is believed that no one can enter the shrine without invocation. All people firmly believe that the divine Mother calls her children, and this idea is backed up by strong personal experience. And after receiving the call, one is obliged to visit the Mother wherever one may be to enjoy her boundless love and benefits.