STO-504 – The Story of Vaishno Devi
To know the history of the Vaishno Devi temple we must go back to Treta Yuga when virtuous people were tormented by the Asuras (demons) Ravana, Kumbakarna, Khardushan and others. The demigods decided to create a divine personality, in the form of a girl, for their protection. To do this, they pooled the spiritual potency of three female deities namely Kali, Lakshmi and Sarasvati. The divine girl asked the Devas the cause and reason for her birth. The deities told her that she had been created to protect Dharma and to rekindle the spirit of religion. She took birth in South India at the home of Ratnakar Sagar, as a girl named Trikuta. The couple named the child Vaishnavi because of her taking birth from Lord Vishnu’s lineage Very soon Ratnakar realised that not only was his daughter extra ordinarily pretty but she appeared to be endowed with an uncommonly inquisitive and sharp mind. Realising the prodigious intellectual capability of his daughter, Ratnakar made arrangements for the best teachers in the area to come and teach her the sacred Vedas and other religious works of the period. Vaishnavi mastered these texts in a very short time and wanted her teachers to impart more and more knowledge. Unfortunately, however, her teachers were unable to quench her intense thirst for knowledge. Both Vaishnavi and her father, Ratnakar, were disappointed. Ratnakar advised his daughter to immerse her mind in contemplating the Creator of the Universe so that she could obtain the answers to some of the questions that seemed to vex her. Vaishnavi agreed and soon learnt the art of going into deep meditation.
Vaishnavi attracted many devoted followers including saints. The fame of her divine power and miracles spread far and wide. People started visiting her to get benediction. One night, Vaishnavi quietly left her ashram in the forest and went to a far off place along the sea in the general area of modern day Rameshwaram. There, away from prying eyes, she once again immersed herself in austerities. The objective behind her intense devotion was her desire for union with Vishnu. Some time later she realised through her spiritual attainments that Vishnu had descended to earth and was living as Rama.. She prayed to Lord Vishnu in the form of Rama. He had just reached the seashore along with his army in search of Sita. His eyes fell on this divine girl in deep meditation. He asked of her name and the reason for her penance. She replied that she had accepted Rama as her husband by mind and heart.
On hearing this Rama told her that he had vowed to accept only one wife. However, he wished that the penance of Vaishnavi would no go to waste. Therefore he said to her, “I will definitely come to see you in a disguised form. If you can recognise me at that time then I will accept you.”
It is said that on his return from Lanka, Lord Rama went to see the girl in the form of an old monk but she did not recognise him. He revealed his identity and assured her that in Kali yuga he would manifest himself as ‘Kalki’ and at that time would marry her.
He asked Vaishnavi to meditate in the Trikuta range of Manik Mountains, situated in north India. He foretold that she would become immortal and become famous as ‘Vaishno Devi’. She still resides there, awaiting the return of Vishnu at the end of this age.