JAMMU AND KASHMIR

Tour Overview

The temple of Mata Vaishno Devi is very ancient according to the study conducted by the geologists. Legend has it that Mata Vaishno Devi had incarnated as a beautiful princess in Treta Yuga as a Shakti of Mother Parvati, Saraswati and Lakshmi for the welfare of mankind. She performed penances in the cave on Trikuta Mountain. When the time came, her body merged into the astral form of the three divine energies Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati.

According to the holy writ, before the great war between the Kurus and the Pandavas was about to begin in Kurukshetra, Lord Krishna advised Arjuna to worship Goddess Durga to obtains her grace. During his prayers, Arjun Arjun addresses the Divine Mother as Jambookatak Chityaishu Nityam Sannihitalaye, which translates into you who always dwell in the temple on the slope of the mountain in Jamboocomes from Jamboodweep, also refers to, India and its surrounding lands in ancient times). Pleased with his devotion, the Divine Mother grants Arjun the boon of victory over his enemies. It is also believed that the Pandavas have visited the shrine of Vaishno Devi on Trikuta mountain.