THE DIVINE GIRL

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According to a fashionable description about the begin of the pilgrimage to the holy cave, it is said that a extremely pious Brahmin of Katra, Sri Dhar by name, once held a yagya in which one unidentified schoolgirl of divine good looks be also see. On being asked who she was and where she came from, she blessed the pious Brahmin and asked him to trail her. He had no choice under the impact of her divine powers. She led him to the holy cave and ordaining him to visit the cave frequently she departed within. That started the pilgrimage to the holy cave of Shri Vaishno Devi. But when did this event take place? Again one draws blank in that regard because except repeating the well-known version of the above account, none can say as to when did it happen. The story is present among the people who claim to be the descendants of Sri Dhar and pew-fellows who were all shares in the offerings made at the shrine. The practice had been stopped now with the establishment of the statutory Shrine Board that manages the shrine entirely.

The site where the divinity gave Darshan to Sri Dhar is known as " Dharshani Darwaza " or may be it is so known because it is the first spot. From where the magnificent view of the whole range of the Trikutta mountain along with the gushing Bal Ganga streamlet at its feet, lays itself bare in all its over-whelming majesty stunning the devotees.

Possibly the oldest suggestion to the appointment of a high dignitary to the holy cave is that of Guru Gobind Singh who is said to have gone there via Purmandal. The old foot track to the holy cave passed through this well-known tirtha, about 40 Kms. from Jammu City.