Maa Vaishno Devi Story

The holy place of Maa Vaishno Devi is known by te name of “Maa Rani Ka Bhavan”. In the end of the long cave is a stone age Pind of Maa Maha Saraswati, Mahalakshami and Maa Maha Durga. Cold water flows in this cave throughout the year. Though there are many popular stories about Maa Vaishno Devi but the 2 main stories are: 

Maa Vaishno Devi Story

1st Story:-
According to Hindu religious beliefs when immorality increased and morality was taking a back seat then the combined power of three forms of Aadishakti: Sat(Maha Saraswati), Rajand Tam(Maha Durga) gave birth to a girl child. This girl took birth in Treta Yuga near the southern sea shore in India as a daughter of priest Ratnakar.

Ratnakar was childless since many year and he named the girl as Trikuta but as she took birth as a small form of lord Vishnu she became famous by the name of Vaishnavi. When the girl was in her ninth year, she came to know that lord Vshnu has taken birth on earth in the form of lord Shri Ram and she started severe meditation to get him as her husband. 

When Shri Ram reached Rameshwar in search of Sita then he saw the girl in meditating position on the sea shore. The girl on seeing him asked him to accept her as his wife. Shri Ram said in this life he has accepted Sita as his wife and has vowed to be loyal to her throghtout his life. 

He further added that he will take birth as Kalki in Kaliyuga and then will accept her as his wife and till then she should stay and meditate on Trikut hill on Himalaya and remove the pains of the devotees and do social welfares. When Shri Ram defeated Ravana then Maa vowed to observe Navratri. Since then onwards Ramayana Paath is done during the nine days of Navratri.

Shri Ram promised her that Trikuta will become famous by the name of Maa Vaishno Devi, will become immortal and will be worshipped all over the world.

Second Story:-
Ancient time Maa got pleased with the devotion of priest Shridhar and saved his honor from getting ruined and gave the world a proof of her presence. Shridhar was childless which pained him very much. Once he called unmarried girls for Navratri worshipping. 

Maa Vaishno Devi also came in guise of a girl and sat in between them. After completion of puja, all the girls went away but Maa stayed there and told Shridhar to invite everyone for meal. Shridhar accepted this and invited all the people from his village and nearby villages as well.

While returning from there he invited Guru Gorakhnath, his disciple Bhairavnath and all other disciples as well. On getting the invitation all the villagers were wondering about the girl who invited large number of people for meal. On getting the invitation all the people gathered at the house of Shridhar. 

Then Maa in guise of a girl came and started serving food to the people from a peculiar type of pot. While serving the food when Maa reached Bhairavnath, he told her that he will not eat Kheer and Puri, instead he will eat meat and drink alcohol. Then Maa told him that this is the house of a Brahman and non-vegetarian foods are not served here but Bhairavnath knowingly remained insistent on his demand.

When Bhairavnath tried to catch hold of the girl, Maa understood that and changed herself in the form of air and flied towards Trikuta hill. Bhairavnath also followed her. It is said that lord Hanuman was also with Maa for her protection. When Hanuman became thirsty then Maa used her arrow to take out a stream of water from the hill. She also washed her hairs in this stream. 

Today this stream of water is called by the name of Vanganga. Taking bath in this holy river removes all the troubles and the problems of the devotees. Maa rested in the cave here for about nine months. Bhairavnath also reached there. Then a sage told Bhairavnath that the girl whom you are following is none other then Maa Jagdamba herself. Do not go after her but Bhairavnath did not took care of this and followed her. 

Then Maa made a way on the other side of the cave and went out of it. In present times this cave is famous by the name of Ardhakumari, Aadikumari and Garbhajoon. There is also a place before Ardhakumari where there is a footstep of Maa from where she looked back to Bhairavnath while running away.

After coming out the cave, the girl changed herself in form of a goddess. Maa then threatened Bhairavnath and told him to go back but he refused. Maa went inside the cave and for her protection Hanuman ji started fighting with Bhairav. When Hanuman ji became tired then Maa took the form of Mahakali and killed Bhairavnath.

Bhairavnath’s slit head fell 8 kms away in Bhairab Ghati of Trikuta hill. Presently that place is known by the name of Bhairavnath Temple. The place where Maa killed Bhairavnath is known by the name of Pavitra Gufa(holy cave) and Bhavan(Palace). 

At this place Maa Kali(right), Maa Saraswati(centre) and Maa Lakshami resides in form of a Pindi. Maa Vaishno Devi is said to be the combined form of these three goddesses. It is said that Bhaironath then realised his fault and from his slit head begged Maa to forgive him. Maa knew that the main motto of Bhairavnath to attack on her was to attain salvation. Maa not only forgave him but also gave him a boon that all the devotees who will visit her holy cave will have to visit his temple thereafter or else the visit will not bring any virtue to the devotee. With this belief the devotees visit Bhairavnath temple after worhsipping Maa Vaishno Devi. 

In the meantime, Maa Vaishno Devi changed herself in the form of three Pindis and became meditative forever. On the other side, Sridhar was sad that Maa came to his house but he did not recognised her. To fulfill the wish of her devotee, Maa came in Sridhar’s dream and told him the way of cave where she resides along with the three Super power Goddesses. Sridhar went out on the shown path and reached the gates of Maa Vaishno Devi. Here he sighted Maa and devoted all his life in her service. After him his predecessors are worshipping Maa even today.