Offering
PUJA at VAISHNO DEVI shrine means offering Puja to tri Maha shakti (Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and
Mahasaraswati)
at a time. Vaishnodevi cave temple which is situated at
the top of the Trikuta Mountain, is extremely popular
and holy to the
people of all faiths. Among the most revered of shrines, and the oldest in the region, it entails a 13.5 km trek
steep walking on the mountain from Katra ( which in turn is 50 km from
Jammu). The route up to the
vaishnodevi shrine consists of both tiled paths as well as steep staircases, and the devout often walk barefeet up the Trikuta
mountain for getting full 'Punnya'.
The cave vaishnodevi shrine is narrow and pilgrims have to walk through a running stream of cold water
' Charan Ganga' to get to the sanctum sanctorum. Within, three rock-cut idols of the goddesses,
Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati are venerated. Canopies of silver and gold adorn the idols. Coconuts and red scarves are offered.
Legend has it that Vaishno Devi took the cave for her home upon being chased by a demon,
Bhairon, whom she slayed outside the shrine. A visit to the temple dedicated to Bhairon who was absolved of his sin before he died, is an obligatory part of the pilgrimage.
Vaishnodevi shrine is
one of the holiest places in India. Mata Vaishno Devi - Maha Lakshmi
Devi - is extremely lively and it is said that a person who offers Puja
to her even from the distant place can realize the Glory of her. Every
year several millions of pilgrims come here from all over the world to
offer Puja to Ma Vaishno Devi. Thousands of pilgrims who can not come
physically offer Puja online to Mata Vaishno Devi at this famous Vaishno
Devi shrine.
