THE STORY OF VAISHNO DEVI MATA!!!!!

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The abode of the Goddess Vaishno Devi is in the Moutains of Trikuta

Hills, in the Jammu and Kashmir State of Northern India. Ma resides

in a beautiful cave in the form of 3 'Pindis' namely, Maha-Kali, Maha-

Laxmi and Maha-Sarawati.

 

Ma Vaishno Devi took birth in the South of India in the home of

Ratnakar Sagar, Her worldly parents had remained childless for a long

time. Ratnakar had promised, the night before the birth of the Divine

child, that he would not come in the way of whatever his child

desired. Ma Vaishno Devi was called Trikuta as a child. Later She was

called Vaishnavi because of Her taking birth from Lord Vishnu's

lineage. When Trikuta was 9 years old, She sought her father's

permission for doing penance on the sea-shore. Trikuta prayed to Lord

Vishnu in the form of Rama. During Shree Ram's search for Sita, He

reached the sea-shore along with His army. His eyes fell on this

Divine Girl in deep meditation. Trikuta told Shree Ram that She had

accepted Him as Her husband. Shree Ram told Her that during this

Incarnation He had vowed to be faithful to only Sita. However the

Lord assured Her that in 'Kaliyuga' He would manifest as 'Kalki' and

would marry Her.

 

In the meantime Shree Ram asked Trikuta to meditate in the cave found

in the Trikuta Range of Manik Mountains, situated in Northern India.

Ma decided to observe the 'Navratra' for the Victory of Shree Ram

against Ravan. Hence one reads the Ramayana during the 9 days of

Navratra, in remembrance of the above connection. Shree Ram promised

that the whole world would sing Ma Vaishno Devi's praise. Trikuta was

to become famous as Vaishno Devi and would become immortal forever.

 

With the passage of time many more stories about the Mother Goddess

emerged. One such story is about Shree-Dhar.

 

The above story is about 700 years old. Shri-Dhar was an ardent

devotee of Ma Vaishno Devi. He resided in a village called Hansali, 2

Km away from the present Katra town. Once Ma appeared to him in the

form of a young bewitching girl. The young girl asked the humble

Pandit to hold a 'Bhandara'. (A feast to feed the mendicants and

devotees) The Pandit set out to invite people from the village and

near-by places. He also invited 'Bhairav Nath'. Bhairav Nath asked

Shri-Dhar how he was planning to fulfill the requirements. He

reminded him of the bad consequences in case of failure. As Panditji

was lost in worry, the Divine girl appeared and told Him not to be

despondent as everything had been arranged. She asked that over 360

devotees be seated in the small hut. True to Her word the Bhandara

went smoothly with food and place to spare.

 

Bhairav Nath admitted that the girl had supernatural powers and

decided to test Her further. Bhairav Nath followed the Divine girl to

Trikuta Hills. For 9 months Bhairav Nath was searching for the mystic

girl in the mountains. He saw the 'girl' hitting the stone with an

arrow and water gushing out of the stone. He 'saw' the 'girl' sitting

on the mountain top. When Bhairav went to that place, he saw

footprints on the stone. Bhairav wondered how the 'girl' had eluded

him for 9 months! Wondering whether she was hiding in the cave (Adi

Kunwaari), he decide to

enter it.

 

On seeing Bhairav entering the cave, Ma tore open a path behind the

cave, by Her trident and came out. Ma reached the beautiful cave in

the Trikuta mountain. She urged Bhairav not to follow Her. But he

disobeyed. The Goddess took the shape of Fierce Chandi and killed

Bhairav. The head of Bhairav fell on the mountain peak. Bhairav had

Spiritual powers. So though his head was severed, he still retained

consciousness. Bhairav repented for his conduct. Ma forgave him and

granted him the boon that whosoever worshipped Her would later visit

his shrine.

 

Meanwhile Pandit Shree-Dhar became impatient. He started to march

towards Trikuta Mountain on the same path that he had witnessed in a

dream. He ultimately reached the cave mouth. He made a daily routine

of worshipping the 'Pindis' in several ways. His worship pleased the

Goddess. She appeared in front of him and blessed him. Since that

day, Shree-Dhar and his descendants have been worshipping the Goddess

Mother Vaishno Devi.

 

Jai Mata Di.

 

 

COURTESY DAL SABZI