In terms of popularity no pilgrimage site can match Vaishno Devi. Every year thousands of people throng to 'mata ka darbar' to plead for wish fulfillment.
As is the case with most holy shrines in India, Vaishno Devi also has a legend attached to it.
Around 700 years ago Vaishno Devi was praying to Lord Rama when Bhairon Nath a tantrik demon god decided he wanted to pursue her. As the Goddess had taken a vow of celibacy she fled from Bhairon. Vaishno Devi ran towards the Trikuta Mountains with Bhairon in hot persuit. While running she felt thirsty and shot an arrow into the earth from where water sprang out. This place is now called Banganga.
The Goddess rested at Charan Paduka where the imprint of her feet got embedded into the earth. She hid and meditated in a cave at Adhkawari where she stayed for nine months. Since that time the cave has come to be known as Garbh Joon (the womb). When Bhairon finally located her in the cave she blew an opening with her trident and escaped. She then took on the form of Mahakali and in her fury cut off Bhairon's head with such force that it fell at a distance. It is here that the Bhairon Temple is now located. Some people also believe that the boulder that blocks the enterance to the holy cave is actually Bhairon's torso as Mata Vaishno Devi forgave Bhairon in his last moments.
The shrine of Vaishno Devi is located in the Trikuta Mountains at a height of 5200 feet above sea level. It is 61 km north of the city of Jammu.
