51 Shakthi Sthalam !! Shakthi Peedam !! Sri Vaishno Devi Mandir !!

 

 

 

Jai Sriman Narayana !!

 

 

 

 

 

Jai Ambey Ma !!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ya Devi Sarva Bhutheshu Shakthi Roopena Samsthitha |

Namas Thasyai Namas Thasyai Nama Thasyai Namo Nama:||

Ya Devi Sarva Bhutheshu Lakshmi Roopena Samsthitha |

Namas Thasyai Namas Thasyai Nama Thasyai Namo Nama:||

 

Ya Devi Sarva Bhutheshu Mathru Roopena Samsthitha |

Namas Thasyai Namas Thasyai Nama Thasyai Namo Nama:||

 

 

Sri Vaishno Devi Mandir is one of the 51 Shakthi Sthalam/Shakthi Peedam of Goddess Sri Parvati located on the high peaked mountain known as  Trikoota  Parvatha which is 5300 ft. above from the ground level in Katra town, State of Jammu &  Kashmir.    The Sanctum Sanctorum of the Goddess Sri Vaishno Devi is 100ft long with a narrow opening at the entry point.  Goddess Sri Vaishno Devi can be seen as Three Pindis, a manifestation of Goddess Sri Maha Durga, Goddess Sri Mahalakshmi & Goddess Sri Maha Saraswathy in the sanctorum.  The three Pindis symbolizes the three vital forces of Supreme Lord as creator, preserver and destroyer.

 

Presiding deity – Sri Vaishno Devi (Three Pindis- manifestation of Goddess Sri Maha Durga, Goddess Sri Mahalakshmi & Goddess Sri Maha Saraswathy)

 

Theertham – Ban Ganaga

 

Festival - Navaratri

 

The legend has that there was a time the Mount Himalaya and its surroundings were under the abstract control of the demons.  They harassed the life of deities and sages, they all appealed to Lord Vishnu.   As instructed by Lord Vishnu, all the spiritual energies of the deities turned into a flame and as desired by the deities and Sages Goddess Sri Sati was rose from the flame and she was brought up by Daksha Prajapathi.  Later, she married to Lord Shiva against the will of her father.

 

 

A Grand Yagna was conducted by Dakshaprajapathi ended in disaster, his own daughter Goddess Sri Sati had to sacrifice her life in the sacrificial fire. This catastrophic incident brought trepidation amongst the deities. Inconsolable Lord Shiva carried the lifeless body of Goddess Sri Sati and wandered on the Earth for several years. The functions of Trinities to protect the Universe were shattered. All the deities were frightened about the terrible consequences and appealed to Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu’ dice chopped off the lifeless body of Goddess Sri Sati into several parts to diffuse the grief of Lord Shiva and each part fell into the different parts of the Earth. The places where the body parts of Goddess Sri Sati fallen on the Earth were turned into ‘Shakthi Sthal/Shakthi Peedam’.

 

 

There are several interesting myths associated with this temple.  There was a poor Brahmin priest Sridhar lived in a village called Hansali/Hansal.  He was a staunch devotee of Goddess Sri Vaishno Devi.  He lived a righteous life and followed all the rituals prescribed in the Sastra.  Once he was while performing Kanya Puja a beautiful girl in her saffron robe appeared from nowhere and seated before him.  He was enchanted at the beauty of this girl; he thoughtfully washed her feet and observed the Kanya Puja.  All the other Kanyakas left their place, the girl in saffron robe seated before him remained, she compassionately advised Sridhar to perform a grand feast for the people lived in that village.  Sridhar was quite alarmed at the instruction of the divine child but she advised him that the entire arrangements for the grand feast would be taken care of and disappeared.  As desired by the divine child a grand feast was organized and the whole villagers were invited for the Samaradhana.  There arrived a Tantric Bhairav Nath with his Guru; he insulted Sridhar for his courageousness to serve the entire villagers and added that if he found the feast was unsatisfying he will curse Sridhar.  The poor Brahmin waveringly received his guests with honor, surprisingly his small hut turned out a spacious enough to accommodate all his guests.  The feast was exceptional and his guests were very happy.  But Tantric Bhairav Nath was not ready to accept the whole incident; he was inquisitively approached Sridhar and came to know the entire truth about the divine child.   The divine child has started her journey immediately after her mission; Tantric Bhairav covetously followed her with his Tantric powers.  During her journey she stopped at a place to quench her thirst and she shot an arrow on the ground.  Instantly, a spring rose from the ground came to known as Ban Ganga.  Further, she moved to a place for rest and this place was recognized as Charan Paduka where the prints of Lotus Feet of Goddess Sri Vaishno Devi can be seen.

 

 

 

The divine child preceded her journey and disappeared into a cave Garbha Joon.  Bhairav continued his search for the divine girl and arrived at the Cave.  It infuriated Vaishno Devi, she moved out further, but Bhairav continued chasing her.  Finally, she arrived at Trikoot Parvath, She transformed into her fierce form Mahakali and beheaded the Tantric Bhairav.    He realized his grave mistake and begged for pardon.  The merciful Mother of the Universe blessed her that there shall be a worship place for Bhairav, the place where his head fallen on the ground.  The Vaishno Devi Yatra remains complete only after visiting the temple of Bhairav Nath located just 2 km away from the main shrine.  Later, Goddess Sri Vaishno Devi revealed her existence inside the Trikoota Parvath to his zealous devotee Sridhar.  After a long trekking Sridhar arrived on this sacred land and continued worship of Goddess.  Pandit Sridhar’s descendents were blessed with the boon to remain the temple priests of Goddess Sri Vaishno Devi Mandir.

 

 

 

Jai Ambey Ma !!

 

 

Jai Sriman Narayana !!