THE HOLY CAVE

 From Bhairav Ghati, one starts on a down path and later than trek for about 3 Kms one reach the end, the Holy Cave of Shri Vaishno Devi.

The cave site has been a lot developed in current years to provide accommodation and one-time services to the pilgrims. The rush, however, is growing each year so fast that improvement are always compulsory here.

The atmosphere here is one of total mystic calm. Mostly the sounds heard are those of " Jaikaras " or group songs in praise of the Devi, locally called " Bhaintan ". Most people carry on stirring all night doing kirtan.

In face of the cave there is a platform on which about 200 people can be accommodated at a time. But not more than a dozen persons can enter the cave in one grouping and have the darshan of the goddess. The relax carry on lyrics on the stage external and enter the narrow cave by turns.

Before entering the cave devotees have purificatory bath with the water coming out of the cave and trained into pipes, which open in bathing ghat nearby.

The mouth of the cave is so narrow that only one person can pass through it at a time and that also, by crouching and crawling,

within also it is too narrow for any person of usual size to walk erect or exclusive of brushing the sides. On one side the rock is sloping and if two persons happen to meet while coming from opposite sides, one must go up the sloping side to let the other pass. Just near the top of the sloping side there are some mini rock formations which pilgrims worship as holy symbols.

Knee-deep cool water gushes out of the cave. After wading through this water for about 100 feet, one has to go up three steps to reach a very small stage on which are the three small " Pindis " or rock protuberances. Consecrated as Maha Lakshmi, Maha Kali and Maha Sarswati or collectively known as Vaishno Devi, the Yog-Maya of Vishnu, the Mother of mountain. By fathoming whose mystery even asuras become saints.

Uttering doxologies and paeans at this sacred spot, making contributions and supplicating the goddess for peace and affluence in life, the pilgrims return in ecstasy forgetting all the agony they had to undergo negotiating the tiresome foot track. Sometimes some devotees get so rapturous as to begin lyrics and dance and noise "Jaikaras" as if possessed.

Every evening and morning the entry of the pilgrims in the cave is closed for a few hours for " Arti " or presentation of worship by the pujaris. for the duration of this

Time the rocks constituting the platform and the ceiling are thoroughly washed with water coming out from beneath the platform. This has a very salutary effect in removing the air pollution from inside the cave caused by constant visit of the worshippers and burning of essences. This phenomenon was sometimes so accentuated that even the " Jyoti " or the holy flame could not be lighted inside. Things had much improved in this behalf with the construction of second tunnel for several years past.

Many other improvements have, however, been made in the surroundings of the cave in the recent years to make pilgrims comfy viz. accommodation has been considerably increased, number of shops added, sanitation improved and bathing appointments extended. Even telephone and wireless have also be install there and medical and police appointments made.

It is believed by many that the cave in fact does not end at the revered platform but goes deeper into the mountain. Some believe it going even to Kashmir. There is none, however, who has gone beyond the sacred " Pindis " and all these accounts appear imaginative tales.

There are a few tough climbers who also visiting the holy cave, have gone superior on the Trikutta peaks and agreed some very shocking tales about the spot and the trek to it. But all tell of the never-to-be-forgotten effulgent Aurora.