Vaishno Devi shrine is one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in India. Millions of devotees visit this sacred shrine throughout the year. Devotees believe that a visit to this sacred place will help them attain salvation and also help them manifest their wishes.
Vaishno Devi or goddess Vaishnavi was an incarnation of Adi Shakti. She was created by mixing the divine powers of the Tridevi. Parvati, Lakshmi, and Saraswati created her together and sent her on Earth to uphold righteousness. She was born to a brahmin named Ratnakar. Since childhood, Vaishnavi was an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu. She desired to unite with him. She undertook severe penance to please him. Vaishnavi left her father's house and started living in the Himalayan mountains. Her meditation and penance brought her immense spiritual powers. Lord Rama during his exile visited her. Vaishnavi immediately knew that Rama was an incarnation of Vishnu. Rama told her that during the age of Kaliyuga, he shall be born as Kalki. As Kalki, he shall unite with Vaishnavi. Until then she needs to practice meditation and severe austerities. Rama also blessed her and said that she will attract a huge devotee base because of her spiritual powers.
Soon Vaishnavi became a popular figure and a lot of devotees started paying a visit to her. Sage Gorakhnath who was a Mahayogi got to know about what Rama had told Vaishnavi. Goraknath was curious and hence sent his favorite disciple Bhairon Nath to check on her. Meanwhile, Sridhar who was a devotee of Vaishnavi asked her to host a feast for brahmins. Brahmins from all the nearby villages were invited for the feast. Bhairon Nath also attended. Bhairon Nath demanded that even meat should be served. However, Vaishnavi told him that only vegetarian food was available here
Bhairon Nath was mesmerized by Vaishnavi's beauty. He started pestering her and followed her everywhere. He kept persuading Vaishnavi for marriage but the goddess kept refusing politely. Bhairon Nath was stubborn and continued behaving badly with the goddess. Finally, Vaishnavi decided to leave her hermitage and move into the caves to meditate so that she is not disturbed by him anymore.
She hid in various caves but was found by Bhairon. In one of the caves named Arthakuwar, she hid for nine months and asked Lord Hanuman to guard her against Bhairon. After nine months she moved from there and entered another cave. Bhairon Nath again tried to disturb her. This time the goddess beheaded him. His head fell and his body remained inside the cave.
Bhairon Nath after his death realised his mistake and begged forgiveness. Vaishnavi forgave him and also told him that all the devotees who come to visit her must visit his head first. Only then the visit to her pilgrim will be considered successful.
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