Vaishno Devi Mata Aarti

Mata Vaishno Devi is worshipped in a sacred cave shrine on the Trikuta hills near Katra in Jammu and Kashmir. She is believed to be the combined form of the three great goddesses - Maha Kali, Maha Lakshmi and Maha Saraswati - manifest as three natural rock pindis inside the cave. According to legend, the goddess, in the form of Vaishnavi, was pursued by the demon Bhairav Nath. She took refuge in a cave for nine months in deep meditation before finally, at Bhairav Ghati, beheading him - after which his head fell far away and, repenting, he was granted salvation and a place of worship near her own shrine. Lakhs of pilgrims climb the mountain path every year chanting 'Jai Mata Di', bathing in Banganga, bowing at Ardhkuwari where the Mata meditated, and finally reaching the Bhavan for darshan of the sacred pindis.

जय वैष्णो माता, मैया जय वैष्णो माता सिद्ध सन्तों की माता, दुःख भंजन दाता जय वैष्णो माता

त्रिकुटा पर्वत पर विराजो, त्रिगुणा तेरा नाम काली लक्ष्मी सरस्वती, तीनों तेरे धाम जय वैष्णो माता

पिंडी रूप में दर्शन दीन्हे, गुफा में तेरा वास भैरवनाथ को मुक्ति दीन्ही, पूर्ण किया विश्वास जय वैष्णो माता

नौ दिन नौ रात्रि भक्त, तेरे दर पर आवें जय माता दी का जयकारा, गूँज पहाड़ों में लगावें जय वैष्णो माता

बाण गंगा में स्नान करें, अर्धकुंवारी शीश नवावें भवन तक चढ़ाई करके, दर्शन का सुख पावें जय वैष्णो माता

चरणपादुका के दर्शन कर, हनुमान गढ़ी को जावें भैरव घाटी दर्शन करके, पूर्ण यात्रा कहलावें जय वैष्णो माता

जो भी भक्त तेरे दर आवे, खाली हाथ न जावे मनवांछित फल पावे, सुख सम्पत्ति सदा पावे जय वैष्णो माता

Victory to Mata Vaishno, mother of the accomplished sages, who removes all sorrow.

You reside on Trikuta parvat, and your very name means the one with three gunas - Kali, Lakshmi and Saraswati are all your abodes.

You gave darshan in the form of pindis and dwell within the cave. You granted liberation even to Bhairav Nath, completing his faith through your grace.

For nine days and nine nights devotees come to your door, and the chant of Jai Mata Di echoes across the mountains.

Devotees bathe in Banganga and bow their heads at Ardhkuwari, and, climbing all the way to the Bhavan, receive the joy of your darshan.

They see the Charan Paduka, visit Hanuman Garhi, and take darshan at Bhairav Ghati, completing the full pilgrimage.

Whoever comes to your door never returns empty-handed - they receive the fulfilment of their wishes and lasting happiness and prosperity.

The aarti is sung standing before an image or pindi-form of the Mata, after lighting a diya, offering a red chunri, coconut and flowers, and ringing a bell. It is customary to sing this aarti during evening puja, and it is central to the daily ritual at the Bhavan shrine itself. It holds special significance during both Navratri seasons (Chaitra and Sharad), on Tuesdays and Fridays, and especially for those preparing for or returning from the actual pilgrimage.

Mata Vaishno Devi is regarded as an extremely swift and compassionate form of the Devi - devotees believe she personally calls those who are meant to undertake her yatra ('bulawa aana'), and that no sincere prayer at her door goes unanswered. Singing her aarti with devotion is believed to remove obstacles, protect the family, and bring courage, clarity and material and spiritual well-being.

Who is Vaishno Devi? She is regarded as the unified form of Kali, Lakshmi and Saraswati, worshipped as three natural pindis in a cave on the Trikuta hills near Katra.

What is the story of Bhairav Nath? Bhairav Nath pursued the goddess; she took his life at Bhairav Ghati in her form as Vaishnavi, but out of compassion granted him liberation and a shrine of his own, which pilgrims visit after the main darshan.

When is this aarti especially significant? During the Chaitra and Sharad Navratri, on Tuesdays and Fridays, and whenever a devotee sets out on or completes the Vaishno Devi yatra.