Mata Vaishno Devi
AGRITA CHHIBBER
One of the most sacred pilgrimages in the modern era is a visit to the Holy Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji.
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji, known throughout the globe as Mooh Maangi Muradein Poori Karne Wali Mata, or “the Mother Who Fulfills Whatever Her Children Wish For,” lives in a Holy Cave nestled among the folds of the Trikuta mountain, a three-peaked mountain (pronounced as Trikoot).
Millions of believers visit the Holy Cave each year.
More than one crore Yatris now visit the Holy Shrine yearly. This is a result of the unwavering trust of the devotees who flock to the shrine from all over India and around the world.
A height of 5200 feet marks the location of the Holy Cave of the mother. The Yatris must make an almost 12-kilometer hike from Katra’s base camp.
At the end of their trek, the Yatries are graced with a Darshan of the Mother Goddess inside the Sanctum Sanctorum—the Holy Cave. These Darshans are three naturally occurring rock formations known as the Pindies. Inside the Cave, there are no statues or idols.
Darshans are performed throughout the year, continually.
Mata ka Bulawa or The Call of Mata:
The Call of Mata signals the beginning of the trip to the Holy Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji. All people strongly believe that the Divine Mother calls to her children, and this idea is backed up by strong personal experiences.
And after receiving it, a person is obligated to visit the Mother, wherever she may be, in order to accept Her boundless love and blessings. Maan Aap Bulandi, which literally translates to “The Mother Herself Calls,” is a well-known phrase in the local folklore that sums it up perfectly. Almost everyone who visits the Holy Shrine has also experienced that when Mata calls, all one needs to do is take one step and leave the rest to Her, and the rest of the way is taken care of.
History of the Shrine:
The Mahabharata epic contains the earliest mention of the Mother Goddess. Arjun, the chief warrior of the Pandavs, concentrated on the Mother Goddess and requested Her blessings for victory when the Pandav and Kaurva armies were positioned on the Kurukshetra battlefield at the advise of Sri Krishna.
At this point, Arjun addresses the Mother Goddess as “you who constantly live in the temple on the slope of the mountain in Jamboo” (Jambookatak Chityaishu Nityam Sannihitalaye) [probably referring to the present-day Jammu].
Additionally, it is widely accepted that the temples at Kol Kandoli and Bhawan were first constructed by the Pandavs out of respect and devotion for the Mother Goddess. Five stone buildings, thought to represent the rock symbols of the five Pandavs, are located on a mountain directly next to the Trikuta Mountain and overlooking the Holy Cave.
Guru Gobind Singh, who is claimed to have travelled there via Purmandal, is the historical figure whose visit to the Holy Cave is perhaps mentioned in the earliest sources. This well-known place of worship was traversed by the ancient footpath that led to the Holy Cave.
I hope you soon get a call of Mata Vaishno Devi to visit this holy beautiful shrine and be blessed by her.
[Writer Agrita Chhibber is from Jammu]
Mahabahu.com is an Online Magazine with collection of premium Assamese and English articles and posts with cultural base and modern thinking. You can send your articles to editor@mahabahu.com / editor@mahabahoo.com ( For Assamese article, Unicode font is necessary)