What makes Vaishno Devi so Sacred?
What is Vaishno Devi (Temple)?
Who?
A manifestation of the Hindu goddess Durga. She’s also believed to be the combined form of Laxmi, Saraswati, and Kali.
What?
The temple is a cave shrine dedicated to the goddess, visited by millions annually, and one of India's most holiest pilgrimage destinations.
Where?
Located 5,000 feet above sea level, in the Trikuta Mountains of northern India, within the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Why?
Hindus believe a visit to Vaishno Devi washes away sins and brings blessings. The journey itself is seen as a test of faith and devotion.
A look inside the temple:
Geological studies suggest the cave is nearly a million years old, whereas the shrine was discovered around 700 years ago. It’s even mentioned in the Mahabharata. Inside, pilgrims perform darshan, a holy sighting of the sacred pindies (natural rock formations) representing the goddess.
All the pindis differ in color and texture despite come from the same source rock: pale white rock represents Saraswati Devi, saffron rock represents Laxmi Devi, and black rock represents Kali Ma.
Story behind the temple:
Once upon a time...
When there was great turmoil on earth, Lakshmi Devi, Saraswati Devi, and Kali Ma, pooled their powers to create a powerful young girl to restore balance to the world. Born as Ratnakar's daughter, she displayed immense wisdom and a deep desire for spiritual knowledge. Following her calling, she ventured into the forest for meditation.
There, she encountered Lord Rama during his exile, while he was searching for his wife, Sita.
Instantly drawn to his divinity, she asked for his hand in marriage. Rama, already married, promised their union in a future life as Kalki, at the end of Kali Yug. He instructed her to reside at the Trikuta Hills and bless humanity.
One visitor, Bhairon Nath, became so obsessed with her, Vaishno Devi fled to a cave to escape his harassment. To defend herself, she unleashed the power of Kali and severed his head. Seeking ultimate peace, she shed her human form and became one with the Divine through meditation, residing as a holy rock forever.
If you want to take a peak at what this temple looks like, there are some videos on our Instagram.
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Modi Toys is a children's brand of toys and books inspired by ancient Hindu culture. We exist to spread joy and to spark curiosity in the next generation through our innovative soft plush toys, illustrated children's books and free learning resources. Our weekly Theology Thursday series covers a wide range of topics rooted in Hinduism to help us better understand the origins of traditions, the symbolic meaning of rituals, and the stories behind Hindu holidays and festivals. The more we can understand "the why" behind this 4,000 year ancient religion, and make sense of it in this modern age, the greater we can appreciate and preserve our rich Hindu culture. While we take great care in thoroughly researching the information presented, we may occasionally get some things wrong. We encourage a healthy and open dialogue so we can learn together. Please leave a comment below or email us directly at support@moditoys.com to address any concerns.
