Temples in Jammu
Raghunath & Rambireswar Temple
This temple, which has seven shrines, was built in 1835 by Maharaja Ranbir Singh. It is one of the largest temples in Northern India. The main Deity of the temple is Lord Rama. The interior is gold plated. Pilgrims visit this temple either before going to Vaishno Devi or after returning.
In this temple there are hundreds of Shiva-lingas brought from Narmada River in South India. This temple is in the center of the city.
The Rambireswara Temple, opposite Dogra Art Gallery is the largest Siva temple in north India. It has a 75m (225 ft) tower.
VAISHNO DEVI
This is an important cave temple where the three major goddesses are worshiped. It is dedicated to the goddesses Laksmi, Kali, and Saraswati. The goddess Durga is said to have killed the demon Bhairon here. Vaishno Devi is 61 km north of Jammu and 14 km from Katra. The cave is at an elevation of I ,700m (5,100 It) and is 30m (93 ft) long and just 1.5m (5 ft) high.
Vaishno Devi is a hard four-hour (13 km) climb from Katra. The best time to come is March to July, as the rest of the time of the year it can be very cold. The main pilgrimage time is March-April and Sept-Oct. In 1986, 1.6 million people came here, or 15 to 20 thousand people a day. The cave ideally handles just 8 or 10 thousand people a day, as only 12 or 15 people are let into the cave at a time. On the full moon day in Kartika (Oct/ Nov) the line to get into the cave can be four km long. It is believed that the arm of Sati fell at this place.
Vaishno Devi Story
About 700 years ago there was a devotee of the goddess named Pt. Baba Shridar in the village of Hansali, about 2 km from Katra. He was busy arranging Kanya Puja at his home when a divine young girl appeared, asked him to arrange bhandara (a collective meal), and then disappeared. He could not understand how he would be able to do this as he was very poor, but he went anyway to the villages in the area and invited people. Along the way, he met Guru Gorakhnath and his 360 disciples and he invited them too.
When all the guests arrived, the divine girl appeared and started serving all the guests from her Kamandal (vessel). Everyone got the food of their choice. Guru Gorakhnath and his disciple Bhairon wanted to harass her, so they asked for meat and wine. She told them that she could not give them meat and wine in a pious Vaishnava Brahmin's home. When the goddess started to go toward Trikuta Hill in the subtle form of air, Bhairon chased after her in great anger.
While being chased the girl entered a womb-like cave and meditated for nine months. This cave is at Ardh Kuwari and is called Garbh-Joon. Eventually Bhairon reached this cave and entered it. The goddess escaped from the end of the cave by using her trident. The girl then went to the peak of the mountain, and Bhairon followed her. She entered a cave at the peak, and Bhairon was killed by her.
Bhumika Temple
At Darshani Darwaza, 1 km from Katra, the goddess disappeared. This place is called Darshani Darwaza because the Trikut mountain is visible from here. Trikuta Parvat is three high peaks that are the abodes of the goddess Vaishno Devi.
Ban Ganga Temple
After the goddess left the Bhumika Temple, she went to the Trikuta Hills passing through here. At this time, Langoor Vir (Veer Langur) felt thirsty. The goddess shot an arrow into the stone and a holy river was produced, now known as Ban Ganga. It is called Ban Ganga because the goddess washed her hair at this place. Most pilgrims take bath here. You must show the slip you got near the Bus Stand in Katra to pass this point. Ban Ganga is about 3 km from Katra.
Charan Paduka Temple
This is where the goddess stopped for some time while Bhairon was chasing her. Her footprints are supposed to be visible on a stone at this place. Charanpaduka means "holy footprints." It is about 1.5km from Ban Ganga at 3,380 feet.
Ardh Kuwari
Ardh Kuwari is the halfway points, and some pilgrims stay here for the night. There is a 15-foot-long cave called Garbha Joon where the goddess hid herself for nine months and showed herself to a saint. The cave is narrow, and you have to almost crawl all the way through it. When Bhairon entered the cave, the goddess made a new opening with her trident and ran away. Ardh Kuwari is 4.5 km from Charan Paduka and 4,800 ft above sea level.
After Ardh Kuwari the path gets very steep for 2.5 km. This ascent is called Hathi Matha ascent, because the mountain is shaped like the forehead of an elephant. It is best to use the footpath rather than the stairs, as the climb will be easier. From here it is another 1500-ft climb to Sanjhi Chatt, and from there another 4 km to the cave.
Vaishno Devi Darshan
The temple here is located in a cave. At the end of the cave are the three deities, consecrated as "Pindies" (rocks) of Maha-Laksmi (middle), Maha-Saraswati (on the left side), and Maha-Kali (on the right side). This cave is 5,200 feet above sea level. There is a lamp here that is always lit. This is the only temple in India where all three goddesses are worshipped in the same place. Before entering the cave, pilgrims take bath in the water coming out of the cave.
When the group number you receive at the parchi counter (Bhawan) is an-nounced you stand in a queue at gate number 2.
You have to enter the cave by bending down for the first two yards. You cannot stand upright inside the cave. You have to walk in cold ankle deep water to seethe deity. This water is called Charan Ganga.
On a busy festival you may have to wait several hours up to your knees in cold water. You walk about 100 ft in the knee deep water and then up four steps to see the pindies. If the wait is long, you may be able to find an official to take you around the back way.
The Sri Ram Temple is near Vaishno Devi cave. There is a Shiva-linga in a cave 125 steps down from the Ram Temple.
The Bhairon (Bhairav) Temple
This temple is about 2.5 km from Vaishno Devi cave at about 6,700 feet. It is traditional to visit this temple after visiting the Vaishno Devi Temple. Bhairon (Bhairav) was absolved of all sins when Durga killed him.
When Bhairon was killed by the goddess his head flew to this place. There is a huge stone outside the cave that represents the body of Bhairon. After he was killed, he prayed to the goddess to forgive him. It is said that the goddess gave the benediction that the desires of her devotees who visit this place would be fulfilled.
Katra
You must pass through Katra to get to Vaishno Devi. It is where the road ends.
There is an ISKCON temple in Katra. It is located at the Kalka Mata Mandir, opposite the petrol pump. The Kalka Mata Mandir is an ancient Shiva and Kali temple, which has been put under the care of ISKCON. The deities are said to be self-manifested. This temple is visited by many pilgrims. Construction has begun on a temple and large guest house here.
Raghunath & Rambireswar Temple
This temple, which has seven shrines, was built in 1835 by Maharaja Ranbir Singh. It is one of the largest temples in Northern India. The main Deity of the temple is Lord Rama. The interior is gold plated. Pilgrims visit this temple either before going to Vaishno Devi or after returning.
In this temple there are hundreds of Shiva-lingas brought from Narmada River in South India. This temple is in the center of the city.
The Rambireswara Temple, opposite Dogra Art Gallery is the largest Shiva temple in north India. It has a 75m (225 ft) tower.
VAISHNO DEVI
This is an important cave temple where the three major goddesses are worshiped. It is dedicated to the goddesses Laksmi, Kali, and Saraswati. The goddess Durga is said to have killed the demon Bhairon here. Vaishno Devi is 61 km north of Jammu and 14 km from Katra. The cave is at an elevation of I ,700m (5,100 It) and is 30m (93 ft) long and just 1.5m (5 ft) high.
Vaishno Devi is a hard four-hour (13 km) climb from Katra. The best time to come is March to July, as the rest of the time of the year it can be very cold. The main pilgrimage time is March-April and Sept-Oct. In 1986, 1.6 million people came here, or 15 to 20 thousand people a day. The cave ideally handles just 8 or 10 thousand people a day, as only 12 or 15 people are let into the cave at a time. On the full moon day in Kartika (Oct/ Nov) the line to get into the cave can be four km long. It is believed that the arm of Sati fell at this place.
Vaishno Devi Story
About 700 years ago there was a devotee of the goddess named Pt. Baba Shridar in the village of Hansali, about 2 km from Katra. He was busy arranging Kanya Puja at his home when a divine young girl appeared, asked him to arrange bhandara (a collective meal), and then disappeared. He could not understand how he would be able to do this as he was very poor, but he went anyway to the villages in the area and invited people. Along the way, he met Guru Gorakhnath and his 360 disciples and he invited them too.
When all the guests arrived, the divine girl appeared and started serving all the guests from her Kamandal (vessel). Everyone got the food of their choice. Guru Gorakhnath and his disciple Bhairon wanted to harass her, so they asked for meat and wine. She told them that she could not give them meat and wine in a pious Vaishnava Brahmin's home. When the goddess started to go toward Trikuta Hill in the subtle form of air, Bhairon chased after her in great anger.
While being chased the girl entered a womb-like cave and meditated for nine months. This cave is at Ardh Kuwari and is called Garbh-Joon. Eventually Bhairon reached this cave and entered it. The goddess escaped from the end of the cave by using her trident. The girl then went to the peak of the mountain, and Bhairon followed her. She entered a cave at the peak, and Bhairon was killed by her.
Vaishno Devi Darshan
The temple here is located in a cave. At the end of the cave are the three deities, consecrated as "Pindies" (rocks) of Maha-Laksmi (middle), Maha-Saraswati (on the left side), and Maha-Kali (on the right side). This cave is 5,200 feet above sea level. There is a lamp here that is always lit. This is the only temple in India where all three goddesses are worshipped in the same place. Before entering the cave, pilgrims take bath in the water coming out of the cave.
When the group number you receive at the parchi counter (Bhawan) is an-nounced you stand in a queue at gate number 2.
You have to enter the cave by bending down for the first two yards. You cannot stand upright inside the cave. You have to walk in cold ankle deep water to seethe deity. This water is called Charan Ganga.
On a busy festival you may have to wait several hours up to your knees in cold water. You walk about 100 ft in the knee deep water and then up four steps to see the pindies. If the wait is long, you may be able to find an official to take you around the back way.
The Sri Ram Temple is near Vaishno Devi cave. There is a Shiva-linga in a cave 125 steps down from the Ram Temple.
The Bhairon (Bhairav) Temple
This temple is about 2.5 km from Vaishno Devi cave at about 6,700 feet. It is traditional to visit this temple after visiting the Vaishno Devi Temple. Bhairon (Bhairav) was absolved of all sins when Durga killed him.
When Bhairon was killed by the goddess his head flew to this place. There is a huge stone outside the cave that represents the body of Bhairon. After he was killed, he prayed to the goddess to forgive him. It is said that the goddess gave the benediction that the desires of her devotees who visit this place would be fulfilled.
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