Vaishno Devi Temple

Vaishno Devi Temple
View of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Bhavan surrounded by Trikuta Hills
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DistrictReasi
DeityVaishno Devi
FestivalsNavaratri, Diwali, New Year
Governing bodyShri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board
Location
LocationJammu and Kashmir
CountryIndia
Vaishno Devi Temple is located in Jammu and Kashmir
Vaishno Devi Temple
Location of Vaishno Devi in Jammu & Kashmir
Vaishno Devi Temple is located in India
Vaishno Devi Temple
Vaishno Devi Temple (India)
Geographic coordinates33°01′48″N 74°56′54″E / 33.0299°N 74.9482°E / 33.0299; 74.9482
Architecture
TypeCave Temple
Completed0028 Vikram Samvat
Specifications
Temple(s)4
Elevation1,584.96 m (5,200 ft)
Website
maavaishnodevi.org
Map

Vaishno Devi Temple, also known as the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Temple and Vaishno Devi Bhavan, is a Hindu temple located in Katra, Jammu and Kashmir, dedicated to Vaishno Devi, a manifestation of Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, and Mahasarasvati.[1][2][3][4] It is located on the Trikuta mountain at 5,000 feet / 1,500 meters elevation.[5] The Shakti tradition considers it to be a Shakti Pitha.[6] The temple is governed by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) and has been chaired by the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir since August 1986.[7]

It is one of the most popular Hindu pilgrimage sites in north India, with millions of devotees visiting the temple annually.[8] In 2018, the Vaishno Devi shrine reported that it had received 8.5 million pilgrims that year.[9]

  1. ^ Sciences, International Union of Anthropological and Ethnological (2011). Holy Places & Pilgrimages: Essays on India. Shubhi Publications. ISBN 978-81-8290-228-2.
  2. ^ Rindani, Kirit (2016). Indian Himalaya: Story of a 100 Visits. Partridge Publishing. p. 47. ISBN 978-1482858860.
  3. ^ S. S. Negi (1998). Discovering the Himalaya, Volume 1. Indus Publishing. p. 429. ISBN 9788173870798.
  4. ^ Kuldip Singh Gulia (2007). Mountains of the God. Gyan Publishing House. p. 15. ISBN 9788182054202.
  5. ^ Chaudhary, Poonam (2002), Religious terrorism -the latest threat (Juxtaposition of Jammu's Heritage - Living and vibrant versus dead and decaying) (PDF), Madrid: Comité Nacional Español del ICOMOS, pp. 311–314, retrieved 19 February 2024
  6. ^ "Famous Durga temples in India for religiously inclined souls". Times of India. 5 April 2019.
  7. ^ "Facts about Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board". SMVDSB Official Site. Archived from the original on 7 March 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  8. ^ "Vaishno Devi pilgrim footfall in 2019 lowest in 3 years: Shrine Board". Business Standard. 2 January 2020.
  9. ^ "Vaishno Devi likely to receive 8.5 mn pilgrims by Dec 31; highest in 5 yrs". Business Standard. 29 December 2018.