Hinduism: Details about 'Vaishno Devi'
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Home
|
Vaishno Devi, a sacred shrine revered by Hindus, is dedicated to the goddess Devi. Located in the town of Katra, in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, it is one of the most popular places of worship in India. At an altitude of 5200 feet and a distance of approximately 12 kilometers (7.45 miles) from the town, the Temple of Vaishno Devi is frequented every year by hundreds of thousands of pilgrims. The nearest airport from Katra is in Jammu city, 48 kilometers (29.82 miles) away. Since April 2005 the nearest Railway Station is at Udhampur 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) away. Railway Extension to Katra proper is planned to be operational December 2006. LegendThe shrine is a holy cave, where the Devi (Goddess) had to unwillingly kill Demon king Bhairon Nath after being chased by her for a long time. The demon's intention was to stop the Goddess from attaining a high level of spirituality, which she was trying to achieve through tapasya, and marry her. Vaishno Devi had to flee to the mountains to continue her quest. Some other legends associated with this pursuit are that of the Goddess hiding in a cave (Adhkawari or Garbh Joon) for nine months, and of granting divine forgiveness to the demon as he plead mercy before dying. The Goddess granted a boon to the demon, whereby every devotee, in order to ensure completion of the pilgrimage, had to visit Bhairon Nath's temple near the shrine. Meanwhile Vaishno Devi assumed the shape of a rock with three pindis (heads) and immersed herself into meditation forever. External link
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||