Vaishno Devi Temple / Bhavan, Vaishno Devi - Timings, History, Darshan, Pooja Timings

At a distance of 18 km from Katra Railway Station, Vaishno Devi Temple is a sacred Hindu temple situated in the temple town of Vaishno Devi near Katra in Jammu & Kashmir, India. It is one of the most popular places of pilgrimage in Jammu & Kashmir, and among the must include places Vaishno Devi Yatra.

Located on the slopes of Trikuta Hills, the Vaishno Devi Temple is dedicated to Maa Vaishno Devi, a folk manifestation of the Hindu Mother Goddess, Durga. Popularly known as Mata Rani, Vaishnavi, and Trikuta, goddess Vaishnavi was formed from the combined energies of Parvati, Lakshmi, and Saraswati. Vaishno Devi is said to be Moonh Maangi Muradein Poori Karne Wali Mata (the mother who fulfills the wishes of her children). Vaishno Devi Temple is one of the richest temples in India with annual receipts of almost 16 billion dollars and is also among the top places to visit near Jammu.

According to legend, Vaishno Devi was an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu and she used to meditate in a cave. It is said that Bhairon Nath, a famous Hindu Tantric, saw the young Vaishno Devi at an agricultural fair and fell madly in love with her. Vaishno Devi fled into Trikuta hills to escape his amorous advances, later she assumed the form of Mahakali and cut off his head with her sword in a cave. His body was held at the entrance to the cave, and his head landed further up the mountain at a place where a Bhairon Nath temple is now located. Bhairo then repented and pleaded for forgiveness. Vaishno Devi blessed him by saying that if pilgrims did not have darshan of his head, their pilgrimage will not be fruitful.

To escape him, Vaishno Devi ran away stopping at various places on the trail up Trikuta mountain. These places are now known as Banganga, Charan Paduka, Ardh Kunwari, the place where she is said to have remained for nine months in a cave, and finally Bhavan, the cave that is now known as her home. The Holy Cave of the Mother is situated at an altitude of 5200 feet. The Yatris have to undertake a trek of nearly 12 km from the base camp at Katra. At the culmination of their pilgrimage, the yatries are blessed with the darshans of the Mother Goddess inside the Sanctum Sanctorum- the holy Cave. These Darshans are in the shape of three natural rock formations called the pindies. These pindies manifest the three forms of the goddess as Maha Kali, Maha Saraswati, and Maha Lakshmi.

Vaishno Devi is one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in India. This renowned shrine allures millions of devotees from all over the world. During festivals like Navaratri, the footfall increases to as high as one crore. Devotees believe the goddess herself calls the devotees to reach here. The temple was included in the Jammu and Kashmir state government Act No. XVI/1988 and is known as Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Act. The committee nominated by the state government administers the temple and has nine members on its board.

The procedure of 'Aarti' is a very sacred and lengthy one here. The 'Aarti' of the Goddess is performed twice a day first time in the morning just before the sunrise and the second time in the evening immediately after the sunset. It is believed that during the pooja and aarti, Goddesses arrive at the Holy cave to pay their respect to Mata Rani. The most prominent festivals held at Vaishno Devi Temple are Navaratri, a nine nights festival celebrating Devi's victory over evil demons, and Diwali, a festival of lights symbolizing the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.

The shrine itself is located at a height of 5300 feet and one has to climb up steep hills and cliffs which require a lot of endurance. The entry gate to the Vaishno Devi Yatra is called Darshani Darwaza and is located 2 km from the Katra Railway Station. To reach the holy shrine, pilgrims have to trek 13-kilometers uphill from Katra. There are horse and palanquin services for the elderly and weak. One can also take a Battery Car ride from Ardhkuwari - Bhavan - Ardhkuwari. There is also the option of taking a helicopter ride to Sanjichhat and walking 2.5 km from there to reach the shrine.

The most important activity that a pilgrim has to undertake on reaching Katra is getting registered for the Yatra. Yatra Registration is carried out at the Yatri Registration counter (YRC) near the Bus Stand Katra. Yatra Registration is also possible online. One needs to book Helicopter Ride, Battery Car Ride, and accommodation at least two months in advance.

Timings: 5 AM - 12 PM & 4 PM - 9 PM, 6.30 AM - 10 PM for Battery Car

Entry: Free, Rs. 1800 for Helicopter Ride (One way), Rs. 350 for Battery Car(One way)