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Mata Vaishno Devi Packages Tours
Katra
Town, lying in the foot of Trikuta Mountains, 48 kms. from Jammu, serves
as the base camp for visiting the famous shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi,
which is approachable on foot along a 13 kms long well laid footpath.
Every year, more than 4.5 million pilgrims pass through Katra on their
way to the holy shrine.
The cave shrine of Mata Vasihnodeviji or Trikuta Bhagwati (alt: 5,200
ft.) has been a beacon of faith and fulfilment to millions of devotees
from all over the world. The pilgrimage to the Shrine holds great significance
for the pilgrims.
The Legend of Mata Vaishnodeviji:
Everyday of the year throngs of people surge up the steep pathways that
cut across the Trikuta hillsides for mile after mile. This show of faith
is finely interwoven with the cultural strands of the Indian subcontinent,
and these pathways have been trod on for many centuries now. Popular belief
holds that anybody who walks the Himalayan trail to the goddesses's abode
to ask for a boon rarely goes back disappointed. Whatever be it, a new
enterprise or a forthcoming examination, marriage or birth, the devout
look up to the Mata For blessings and guidance. There are many who journey
year after year to pay obeisance regardless of their faith or belief,
creed or class, caste or religion.
The Yatra to the holy shrine is as fascinating as the legend associated
with it. It goes that thousands of years ago, a comely maiden called "Vaishnavi"
have been created by the three lords attained human form and was a devotee
of Lord Vishnu. Having taken a vow of celibacy, she spent almost all her
life in meditation and prayers. In time she attained enormous spiritual
powers and is believed to have extracted an assurance from Lord Rama that
he will marry her in Kali-Yug if she persisted in her spiritual quest.
This is why she is also known as Adh Kanwari or the "eternal virgin".
Mata
Vaishno Devi established an ashram in the foothills of the Trikuta Mountain
and began to meditate. As predicted by Lord Rama, her glory started spreading
and people began to flock to her ashram to seek her blessings. As time
passed, a Tantrik called Gorakh Nath (Demo God), who had a vision of the
episode between Lord Rama and Mata Vaishno Devi, became curious and wanted
to know more about her. Accordingly, he sent his most able disciple `Bhairon
Nath' to find out. Bhairon Nath started observing her secretly and realized
that despite being a `Sadhvi', she always carried a bow and arrows and
was always surrounded by langoor (apes) and a ferocious looking lion.
Bhairon, the demon God took a fancy to her. But the Mata spurned his advances
and fled to the Himalayas to continue her spiritual quest.
On the way the goddess felt thirsty at Banganga and shot an arrow into
the earth from where water gushed out. Charan Paduka, which is marked
by the imprints of her feet, is the place where she rested.
The Goddess then meditated in the cave at Adh Kanwari. It took Bhairon
nine months to locate her, which is why the cave is known as Garbh Joon.
When the demon found her, Mata Vaishno Devi blasted an opening at the
other end of the cave with her trident and fled to the Holy cave at Darbar
(temple). However, Bhairon was persistent and followed her there to harass
her. Then goddess became very angry and assuming the form of Mata Kali,
beheaded Bhairon outside the cave with the aid of the flying disc gifted
to her by Lord Krishna. The severed head of Bhairon fell at a distant
hilltop. In his dying moments, Bhairon begged and received divine forgiveness
from the goddess. Today, it is believed that the Yatra is not complete
unless the pilgrim has been to Bhairon ka Mandir (2.6 km from the main
sanctum) as well, after the darshan of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi.
The
goddess herself took up permanent abode in a cave in the Trikuta Mountains
by metamorphosing herself in to three pindis (Rock). This holy shrine
of Mata Vaishno Devi is unique as it contains the holiest of holy Pindis
manifesting the Mata in her three forms - Maha Kali, Maha Lakshmi and
Maha Saraswati - each form representing a particular attribute. Maha Kali
represents Tamas Guna, Tamas meaning darkness. In her manifestation of
Kali the omnipotent, absolute and all pervasive, she is said to be beyond
fear and finite existence and is therefore able to protect her devotees
against fear and to give them limitless peace. Maha Lakshmi represents
Rajas Guna, Rajas meaning prosperity. In this manifestation, the goddess
blesses her devotees with wealth and prosperity for living a better life.
Maha Saraswati represents Sattav Guna, Sattav meaning wisdom and knowledge.
This manifestation enables her devotees to distinguish between good and
bad and helps them to adopt the right path in life. The combination of
these three attributes in a single Shakti is a unique combination, which
is what makes it, revered all over the world.
WHAT TO REMEMBER :
=================================
Obtain a yatra slip only from the yatra registration counter at the Tourist
Reception Centre at the Katra bus stand and nowhere else. Without an authentic
yatra slip, crossing of the Ban Ganga check post is not permitted.
Fellow pilgrims are bound to you by their faith in the Mata. Avoid playing
transistors or tape recorders too loudly or creating blockage or hindrances
in the passages meant for circulation of the yatris.
Qualified doctors are available at the Primary Health Centre, Katra and
at the dispensaries at Adhkawari and Bhawan, round the clock. They are
also available at the evening clinic at Katra bus stand; open 2 p.m to
8 p.m. Medical Aid Centres run by the SMV Shrine Board provide necessary
assistance to the pilgrims at the Katra bus stand, Banganga and Sanji
Chhat.
The
Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMV Shrine Board) runs a large number
of cafeterias and viewing points along the trail between Katra and the
shrine where snacks, coffee and cold drinks are provided to the yatris
on a no-profit-no-loss basis. The Shrine Board also runs 'bhojanalyas'
at Katra, Adhkawari, Sanji Chhat and at the Bhawan / shrine for providing
hygienically prepared food to the yatris on a no-profit-no-loss basis.
Upon reaching the Bhawan, a group number is allotted to the pilgrims at
the slip ('parchi') counter against the yatra slip issued at Katra. The
yatri is required to stand in queue at Gate Number 2 till the announcement
of the group's number is made to proceed to the sanctum sanctorum.
SIGHT SEEING & EXCURSION :
=================================
Aghar Jitto : Just 5 km away from Katra is Aghar Jitto, the Shrine
of Baba Jitto, a devotee of Mata Vaishno Devi and a revolutionary who
led a campaign against the feudal order. According to legends, a dip in
the holy spring water, flowing in front of the shrine, does miracles to
pre-natal women for safe delivery of children. A path from here leads
to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi.
Dera Baba Banda : At about 30 kms from Katra lies this major Hindu-Sikh
pilgrimage centre. Baba Banda Bairaagi was Guru Gobind Singh's favourite
'Saint-soldier', who had the gurudwara constructed on the banks of river
Chenab, where he spent his last days.
Baba Dhansar : Located 10 kms from Katra (1 km on foot) is Baba
Dhansar, a beautiful and cool picnic spot. Here, a huge spring gushes
out of the mountainside in a thick grove of trees and forms a number of
small waterfalls before flowing into the holy Banganga. Next to the spring
in a small grove in the rock face is a naturally formed 'Shivling' on
which droplets of water fall naturally all the year round. A major 'mela'
(fair) is held here during Shivratri.
Shiv Khori : This holy cave is nearly a kilometre long and houses
a 4 ft high, naturally formed 'Shivling'. It is considered second only
to the shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi in religious importance. There are
stalactites & stalagmites dripping milky limestone water from the
ceiling. Situated at a distance of about 100 kms from Jammu and about
75 kms from Katra, Shiv Khori hosts a major fair on Shivratri day every
year.
MATA VAISHNODEVI TOUR PACKAGE :
=================================
Katra Town, lying in the foot of Trikuta Mountains, 48 kms. from Jammu,
serves as the base camp for visiting the famous shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno
Devi, which is approachable on foot along a 13 kms long well laid footpath.
Every year, more than 4.5 million pilgrims pass through Katra on their
way to the holy shrine. The cave shrine of Mata Vasihnodeviji or Trikuta
Bhagwati (alt: 5,200 ft.) has been a beacon of faith and fulfilment to
millions of devotees from all over the world. The pilgrimage to the Shrine
holds great significance for the pilgrims.
The Legend of Mata Vaishnodeviji:
==================================
Everyday
of the year throngs of people surge up the steep pathways that cut across
the Trikuta hillsides for mile after mile. This show of faith is finely
interwoven with the cultural strands of the Indian subcontinent, and these
pathways have been trod on for many centuries now. Popular belief holds
that anybody who walks the Himalayan trail to the goddesses's abode to
ask for a boon rarely goes back disappointed. Whatever be it, a new enterprise
or a forthcoming examination, marriage or birth, the devout look up to
the Mata For blessings and guidance. There are many who journey year after
year to pay obeisance regardless of their faith or belief, creed or class,
caste or religion.
MATA VAISHNO TOUR PACKAGE :
==================================
Duration: 3 Days/ 2 Nights
Destination Covered : Delhi - Jammu - Katra - Vaishno Devi- Delhi
Day 01: Delhi - Jammu - Katra (35kms/1.5hr)
Arr. Jammu Airport/Railway Stn., transfer to Katra. Check in Hotel. Overnight
stay.
Day 02: Katra - Vaishno Devi - Katra
Early morning 14kms start from here to Vaishnodevi. After Darshan, trek
down to Katra. Overnight stay.
Day 03: Katra - Jammu - Delhi
Morning visit Local Sight Seeing & Temples. Later, Transfer to Airport/Railway
Stn. Dep. to Delhi.
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