Wikipedia

Vaishno Devi

Not to be confused with Vaishnavi (Matrika goddess).
For the temple, see Vaishno Devi Temple.

Vaishno Devi (also known as Mata Rani, Trikuta, Ambe and Vaishnavi) is a manifestation of the Hindu mother goddess Lakshmi in some beliefs. Vaishno Devi is worshipped as a combined avatar of the goddesses Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, and Mahasarasvati.[1][2][3] Additionally, she is seen as the potency of Hari or Vishnu. Vaishnavi is the worshipper of Vishnu who meditates to him on the Trikut mountain and awaits his arrival. [4]

Vaishno Devi
Mother Goddess; Goddess of hills
Inside view of the Holy Cave, the 3 Pindis; Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasarasvati
Other namesVaishnavi, Mata Rani, Ambe, Trikuta, Sheravali, Jyotavali, Pahadavali, Durga, Lakshmi, Bhagavati, Jagdamba, Vishnumaya, Vishnupriya, Ramaa, Maniki
Devanagariवैष्णो देवी
AffiliationMahadevi, Durga, Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, Mahasarasvati
AbodeVaishno Devi Temple, Katra, India
MountLion
Genealogy
Parents
  • King Ratnākara (father)
  • Queen Samṛddhi (mother)

Origin

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Purāṇa

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According to Dēvī Mahābhāgavata Purāṇa, she is mentioned as "Viṣṇupriyā".[5]

In the Varāha Purāṇa's Triśakti Māhātmya, she originated from Trikalā (the goddess who was born from Trimūrtis) and slayed an asura called Mahiṣāsura on Śataśṛṅga Parvata where the current Trikūṭa Dhāma of Vaiṣṇōdēvī is situated.[6]

Pāñcarātra

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The Lakṣmīnārāyaṇa Saṃhitā's Kṛtayuga Santāna and Dvāparayuga Santāna calls her "Māṇikī", the Śakti of Kalki, as she resides on Māṇika Parvata (another name of Trikūṭa).[7]

 
A view of Vaishno Devi Bhawan

Pilgrimage route

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Professor and author Manohar Sajnani says, According to Hindu beliefs, the original abode of Vaishno Devi was Ardha Kunwari, a place about halfway between Katra town and the cave. She meditated in the cave for 9 months just like how a baby stays in its mother's womb for 9 months.[8] It is said that when Bhairav Nath ran after Vaishno Devi to catch her. The Devi reached near a cave in the hill, she called up Hanuman and told him that "I would do penance in this cave for nine months, till then you should not allow Bhairav Nath to enter the cave." Hanuman obeyed the mother's orders. Bhairavnath was kept outside this cave and today this holy cave is known as 'Ardha Kunwari'.[9]

Temple

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Main article: Vaishno Devi Temple
 
The Vaishno Devi temple in 2008

The Vaishno Devi Temple is an important Hindu temple dedicated to Vaishno Devi located in Katra at the Trikuta Mountains within the Indian Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.[10][11][12] The Shakta tradition considered it as one of the 108 Shakti Peethas dedicated to goddess Durga.[13] It is one of the most visited pilgrimage centers of India. Every year millions of visitors visit the temple.[14][15] During festivals like Navaratri, the count even increases to ten million (one crore) visitors.[16] Vaishno Devi Temple is one of the richest temples in India. Authors Michael Barnett and Janice Gross Stein says, "Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Jammu has an annual income of about $16 million, mainly from offerings by devotees".[17]

The temple is considered sacred by all Hindus. Many prominent saints such as Vivekananda have visited the temple.[18]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Allard, Syama (30 September 2022). "All about Vaishno Devi: the goddess of Jammu's cave shrine". Hindu American Foundation. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  2. ^ Gulia, Kuldip Singh, ed. (2007). Mountains of the God: spiritual ecology of Himalaya region. Himalaya past and present series. Delhi: Isha Books. ISBN 978-81-8205-420-2.
  3. ^ "Discovery | Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board". www.maavaishnodevi.org. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  4. ^ "About Shrine | Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board". www.maavaishnodevi.org. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  5. ^ "Dēvī Mahābhāgavata Purāṇa". 4 March 1975.
  6. ^ Veda Vyasa. The Varaha Purana in English.
  7. ^ www.wisdomlib.org (28 January 2021). "Lakshminarayana Samhita Verse 1.334.53 [Sanskrit text]". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  8. ^ Manohar Sajnani (2001). Encyclopaedia of Tourism Resources in India, Volume 1. Gyan Publishing House. p. 158. ISBN 9788178350172.
  9. ^ Virodai, Yashodhara (5 October 2017). "Story of Mata Vaishnodevi". newstrend.news (in Hindi). Newstrend Network Communication Pvt Ltd. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  10. ^ Rindani, Kirit (2016). Indian Himalaya: Story of a 100 Visits. Partridge Publishing. p. 47. ISBN 978-1482858860.
  11. ^ S. S. Negi (1998). Discovering the Himalaya, Volume 1. Indus Publishing. p. 429. ISBN 9788173870798.
  12. ^ Kuldip Singh Gulia (2007). Mountains of the God. Gyan Publishing House. p. 15. ISBN 9788182054202.
  13. ^ "Famous Durga temples in India for religiously inclined souls". Times of India. 5 April 2019.
  14. ^ "Vaishno Devi pilgrim footfall in 2019 lowest in 3 years: Shrine Board". Business Standard. 2 January 2020.
  15. ^ "Vaishno Devi likely to receive 8.5 mn pilgrims by Dec 31; highest in 5 yrs". Business Standard. 29 December 2018.
  16. ^ "Vaishno Devi-Bhairav Mandir ropeway service starts from today". The Times of India. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  17. ^ Michael Barnett; Janice Gross Stein (3 July 2012). Sacred Aid: Faith and Humanitarianism. Oxford University Press. p. 140. ISBN 978-0199916030.
  18. ^ Dipankar Banerjee; D. Suba Chandran (2005). Jammu and Kashmir: Charting a Future. Saṁskṛiti. p. 61. ISBN 9788187374442.

https://www.maavaishnavi.com/51-shakti-peethas-of-maa-durga-maa-sati-dakshayani/

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Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Vaishno Devi.
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