MAA VAISHNO DEVI TEMPLE

LOCATION:Jammu and Kashmir

PRIMARY DIETY:Vaishno Devi

STORY:Maa Vaishno Devi was born in the South of India in the home of Ratnakar Sagar. Her worldly parents had remained childless for a long time. Ratnakar had promised to lord Vishnu , the night before the birth of the Divine child, that he would not interfere with 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 pleased with her devotion , Lord Rama gave her name vaishnavi (devotee of lord rama (Maha Vishnu)and assured Her that in Kaliyuga He would manifest as Kalki(another incarnation of lord Vishnu) 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.Lord Ram gave her a bow and arrows, army of monkeys and a lion for her protection, Ma decided to observe the 'Navratra' for the Victory of Shree Rama against Ravana. Hence one reads the Ramayana(mythological epic about Lord rama) 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. Lord Rama also said Trikuta was to become famous as Vaishno Devi and would become immortal forever.

This temple was discovered by pandit shree dhar.. who had dreamt of it one night.. he followed the path he head dreamt of and reached the cave mouth where the lord meditated..He could not find her and yet worshipped daily , the goddess pleased by the devotion appeared in front of him and blessed him.
Later Vaishno Devi assumed the shape of a rock with three pindis (heads) and immersed herself into meditation forever

REFER TO BAANA GANGA AND BHAIRAV GHATI TO KNOW MORE OF THE STORY.. THESE 3 STORIES ARE RELATED