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.
Clothing
Light woollens are
required at night even during summer. During the remaining parts of the year
heavy woollens are require.
How to reach?
Jammu, 48 kms from Katra,
is the nearest airport, railhead and inter-state bus terminus. Buses leave for
Katra at 10 minute intervals between 5:30 a.m and 8:30 p.m. During peak season,
additional buses are pressed into service.
Taxis are available both
at Jammu and Katra for the journey. In Jammu city, these can be hired from the
Jammu airport, Jammu railway station and the Tourist Reception Centre. A number
of travel agencies conduct tours to Katra regularly from Delhi and other major
cities of India. There are also daily scheduled services to Katra from a number
of cities and towns of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.
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