Vaishno Devi is a Hindu goddess.
One of the nine Shiwalik goddesses, Vaishno Devi is the
presiding goddess of the Vaishno Devi temple, which is housed in a cave on
Trikut mountain in the highlands near Jammu.
Pilgrims traveling to Vaishno Devi go by vehicle from Jammu
to Katra, where they walk the 10 kilometers to the shrine.
Vaishno Devi's representations, like many of the Shiwalik
goddesses', are "self-manifested" (svayambhu) in the shape of three
stone outcrops.
The three manifestations of the Goddess recorded in the
Devimahatmya, the oldest and most authentic source for the Goddess's mythology,
are thought to be Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, and Mahasaraswati.
The presence of all three goddesses is said to make this
place immensely potent, and Vaishno Devi is said to fulfill any request made by
her worshippers (bhakta).
Those whose desires are fulfilled, according to some
traditions, are strongly urged to return, both to praise the Goddess and to
offer testimony to her goodness.
The number of visitors to the site has skyrocketed in recent
years, perhaps expressing concerns about contemporary Indian life.
Vaishno Devi's charter myth is linked to a number of
legends.
The name Vaishno is derived from the Hindu god Vishnu, and
it refers to Vaishno Devi's birth as a partial incarnation of Vishnu.
Vaishno Devi is a vegetarian goddess who does not accept
animal sacrifices, which is one proof of their relationship.
According to another legend, Vaishno Devi was the location
where the goddess Sati's torn arms descended to earth.
Since this myth is never linked to Vaishno Devi, it seems to
be a clear effort to link into the Shakti Pithas, a network of temples
dedicated to the Goddess that stretches throughout the subcontinent.
Shridhara, a brahmin, is said to have found the cave in the
longest version of the charter tale.
Shridhara, a devout follower of the Goddess (who has put him
to the test in numerous ways), is troubled by the fact that he is childless.
In a dream, the Goddess shows him the site of the Vaishno
Devi grotto.
He eventually discovers the cave after a long search and is
soon rewarded with four sons, proving Vaishno Devi's vow that she would satisfy
her worshippers' wishes, whatever they may be.
Kathleen Erndl's Victory to the Mother, published in 1993,
has further information.
You may also want to read more about Hinduism here.
Be sure to check out my writings on religion here.
