The temple of Vaishnodevi in Katra on the banks of the Baan Ganga river in Jammu & Kashmir has been in the news recently. Terrorists have been threatening pilgrims on the way to her sacred temple. There are reports of attacks and casualties too. But the devotees are undeterred. Staunch devotees walk up the high hill atop which stands the temple, bare feet in chilling cold. Navratri (festival of nine nights) is the occasion for a fair when millions from all over India and even abroad visit the shrine.

           What's the religious significance of the place? Vaishnodevi is regarded as an aspect of the Mother Goddess. She is believed to have several forms and images. In different regions of India she is called by a particular name, and her idols are shaped according to local beliefs. Mother Durga or Mahishasur Mardini (slayer of demon Mahishasur) is worshipped by the Hindus of Bengal, Assam, Orissa and wherever else migrants from these places have lived for generations. In Mumbai ((Bombay) also Mahalakshmi temple is dedicated to Mother Durga.

           Another incarnation of the Goddess is Mata Sati, a divine consort of Lord Shiva. All over India 51 Shakti Peethas (shrines of the Goddess) were installed long ago. These are spread from Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Tripura, Bengal, Kurukshetra and Kancheepuram in the south. Some of them are beyond the boundaries of India in Sri Lanka and Nepal.

           Mata Bhubaneshwari (Mother Goddess of the Earth or the Universe) is another important female divine aspect. No temple is dedicated to her because she is believed to be ethereal. But prayers are offered to her incarnations - Saraswathi (Goddess of the Earth or the Universe), Lakshmi (Goddess of wealth) and Gauri (Goddess signifying the source of cosmic energy in the universe). Each one of them is worshipped on different occasions.

          THE GENESIS: In contrast to male incarnations like Ram and Krishna who were born as human children, grew up and fulfilled their mission as family men and kings before returning to their celestial abode, the female incarnations are conceived on an eternal principle. Except Sati none other is supposed to have human parentage.

          Indian genesis of the world of living has origins in the appearance of the Holy Trinity - Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh (Shiva). They come with assigned responsibilities: origination (of all life) by Brahma, sustenance by Vishnu and destruction by Shiva. But to start their duties they need inspiration from the primal Goddess Bhubaneshwari who resides in her abode of light (Manidweep). In her dazzling presence, they accept, respectively, her representatives Saraswathi, Lakshmi and Gauri whom she bestows on them.

           THE LEGENDS: Vaishnodevi: The story is quite recent. About seven hundred years ago, one pandit Shridhar of a Jammu village prayed to Goddess Lakshmi. Pleased with his devotion, she asked him to arrange a meal for every villager within a radius of 12 miles. He was too poor to afford it, but with faith in the Goddess, he went ahead. Everyone had a stomachful thanks to the Goddess. Impressed by the miracle, a tantric (a practitioner of occult) named Bhairavnath went in search of the Goddess. She, angered by his conduct, took him up to a hill and put him to death. On that spot a temple was built later.

           Durga: When Goddess Bhubaneshwari killed a demon called Durgam or Durg she came to be known as Durga.

           Mahishasur Mardini: Mahishasur was another demon. Brahma's boon made him immune to enemies: only a woman could harm him. This boon turned his head. He defeated the Gods and usurped the divine king's throne in heaven. On Vishnu's advice, the Gods pooled their energies to produce Devi, a Goddess of extraordinary powers. She is believed to have eight hands holding terrible weapons and to be astride a ferocious lion. Mahishasur fought her tooth and nail, but finally succumbed.

           Sati: Daksh, son of Brahma, was blessed with a daughter, Sati, who was incarnation of a Goddess. She chose Shiva as her husband against her father's wishes. Once Daksh humiliated Shiva by not inviting him to a family ceremony. Angered by this insult to Shiva, she sacrificed herself on the altar. A distraught Shiva carries Sati's body around the world. Vishnu then caused the disintegration of Sati's body to pull Shiva out of this state. Wherever the different parts of Sati's body fell on earth, a shaktipeeth (shrine) was built later by devotees.

-India Overseas