Sab mil k bolo jay mata di
aage wale jay mata di...
piche wale jay mata di....
uncle bhi bole jay mata di...
aunty bhi bole jay mata di...
bhaiya bhi bole jay mata di...
didi bhi bole jay mata di....
dadu bhi bole jay mata di....
dadi bhi bole jay mata di......
After reading these lines you can feel the same as when you are on the way for darshan. In the way who ever meet everybody will say the same lines..."Jay mata di".
The journey to the Holy Shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi is thus an enchanting journey. Indian Spiritual tradition has propounded four Purusharth (objectives) of a human life. These being Dharm (Righteousness), Arth (Material Pursuits), Kaam (Contentment) and Moksh (Enlightenment). Shri Mata Vaishno Devi is believed to grant all the four boons to those who visit Her Holy Shrine. She is considered to fulfill anything and everything that a person wishes for in life, in a righteous way. It is an experience of all, that no one goes empty handed from Her Great Pilgrimage.
Lets start with small discrrption of mata rani's "Pindi". To your extreme left is the Pindi of Maiya Maha Saraswati. It has a white tinge. In the middle is the Pindi of Maiya Maha Lakshmi, with a yellow-reddish tinge and to the right is the Pindi of Maiya Maha Kali, with HER associated color black.
About Temple:-The temple is near the town of Katra, in Udhampur district in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. It is one of the most revered places of worship in Northern India. The shrine is at an altitude of 5200 feet and a distance of approximately 12 kilometres (7.45 miles) from Katra. Million of pilgrims visit the temple every year and is the second most visited religious shrine in India, after Tirumala Venkateswara Temple. The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board maintains the shrine. A rail link from Udhampur to Katra is being built to facilitate pilgrimage.it is a very famous place.
History:-
According to Hindu epic, Maa 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 seashore. Trikuta prayed to Lord Vishnu in the form of Rama. During Shree Rama's search for Sita, He reached the seashore along with His army. His eyes fell on this Divine Girl in deep meditation. Trikuta told Shree Rama that She had accepted Him as Her husband. Shree Rama 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 Rama 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 Rama against Ravan. Hence one reads the Ramayana during the 9 days of Navratra, in remembrance of the above connection. Shree Rama 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.
How to Reach...
Airway :
Nearest airport - Jammu (48 km from Katra)
Daily Flights are available from Delhi and Srinagar. These flights (Indian Airlines, Go Air, Air Deccan, Jet Airways, Spicejet, Kingfisher) connect Chandigarh & Amritsar on some days of the week.
Railway :
Nearest Railway Station - Jammu By rail, Jammu is directly connected cities like Mumbai, Delhi Kolkatta and Chennai. Besides, it is connected with other major cities of the country.
Roadways :
Jammu is the terminus of a large number of Inter State Bus Services.
Where to stay :
Jammu
Yatri Niwas managed by the Shrine Board. Various private hotels, the room rent ranging from Rs.300/- per day to Rs.3000/- per day.
Katra
Yatri Niwas managed by the Shrine Board, Rest Houses maintained by the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department, other Hotels. Sarais, managed by the Shrine Board offer free accommodations at Adhkawari, Sanjichhat and Darbar. Dharamshala, run by various organizations offer reasonable accommodation to the pilgrims. Yatris are however advised to keep themselves away from touts promising free Dharamshala accommodations.