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 The incarnation of Vaishno Devi took place during the Treta Yuga, when the demon Ravana and his brothers and other demonic forces were committing atrocities on the earth. The Tridevis or the three great goddesses, Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, and Mahasaraswati decided to combine their respective energies tamas, sattva and rajas to give birth to a single divine powerful energy for the preservation of Dharma. From this unified brilliance, a beautiful divine goddess emerged. This goddess was given the name Vaishno Devi. She was commanded to take birth as a daughter in the home of a man named Ratnakar Sagar in Southern India. Ratnakar Sagar gave her the name Trikuta. Her mission was specifically defined as upholding dharma on Earth and assisting in the rescue of Sita, the abducted wife of Lord Rama, an avatar of Vishnu Even from a young age, Trikuta demonstrated her divine magical powers, attracting sages, seers, and the deities themselves. Trikuta became popular among the three worlds Earth, Sky and Heaven. With her father's permission, she moved to a secluded area on the seashore, meditating solely on Lord Rama and performing a severe penance tapasya. When Lord Rama reached the seashore with his army of monkeys during his hunt of Ravana, who had abducted Sita, he saw the young girl absorbed in deep meditation. When Rama questioned her about the purpose of her penance, Trikuta introduced herself as the daughter of Ratnakar Sagar and stated her firm resolve to obtain Rama as her husband. Rama, who had taken a vow of monogamy acknowledging none other than Sita as his wife in that avatar, set a condition. He promised that after killing Ravana and rescuing Sita, he would return to her hut in a disguise, and if she recognized him, he would accept her. When Rama returned, disguised as an old sadhu after conquering Lanka, Trikuta failed to recognize him. Upon realizing his true identity, Trikuta was distraught, but Rama offered her solace and assurance. He instructed her to travel to a beautiful cave on the Trikuta mountain in North India, where the three mountains represent the three goddesses, and immerse herself in meditation. Rama promised that in the upcoming Kali Yuga, when he takes his Kalki Avatar, she would become his companion. She would become immortal there, and the brave monkey warriors Nala, Neela, Hanuman and Jambavan would stand as her protectors. Her fame and glory would eventually spread throughout the World, and she would be famously known as Vaishno Devi. Around 700 years ago, a devotee Shridhar lived in the village of Hansali, approximately 2 km from Katra. Shridhar was a devout worshipper of the goddess Vaishno Devi and customarily performed kanya puja worship of young girls as manifestations of the goddess. Grieved by his childlessness, he intensified his devotion to the goddess. He made a strict vow that he would fast until the goddess herself came to his home and fed him. Touched by his unshakeable faith, Vaishno Devi appeared before him in the form of a young girl. The girl instructed Shridhar to organize a bhandara feeding a group of people for free, the following day and invite people from his village and nearby areas. While distributing invitations, Shridhar encountered the ascetic Guru Gorakhnath and his disciples, including Bhaironnath. Gorakhnath, upon hearing of the grand feast organized by a poor Brahmin on the advice of a young girl, remarked scornfully that Shridhar must be mistaken in inviting him and his 360 disciples. Nevertheless, Gorakhnath and Bhaironnath agreed to attend, deciding to test the veracity of the girl's power. When the day arrived, a huge crowd gathered, and the divine girl arranged for everyone, including Gorakhnath and his 62 followers, to be seated comfortably in the small hut. Using the akshaya patra a magic vessel that never goes empty , the girl began serving food that fulfilled every guest's specific desire. Bhaironnath then realized that the girl had magic powers. When the girl approached him, Bhaironnath, intending to test her and driven by his impure desires, demanded meat and wine. The girl, however, stated firmly that this was a Brahmin's feast, and only vegetarian food would be served. Bhaironnath, attempting to seize the girl in his anger, found that the girl instantly vanished. Bhaironnath immediately began chasing her up the Trikuta mountain. Darshani Darwaza is where the girl vanished from the hut and proceeded toward the Trikuta mountain. It is considered the first gateway to the Trikuta mountain and is located approximately 1 km from Katra. The goddess called Hanuman and he appeared in front of her as her guardian. As the goddess continued her path, Hanuman, grew thirsty. To quench his thirst, the goddess struck the rocks with an arrow, causing a pure water stream to spring forth. This stream is now named as Ban Ganga Ganga of the arrow. She also washed her hair in this water, contributing to the name Bal Ganga Ganga of the washed hair. This sacred place is about 2 km past Darshani Darwaza. After that the goddess paused and looked back to check if Bhaironnath was still following her. Her footprints became imprinted on the rock where she stopped, hence the name Charan Paduka holy footprints . It is considered the second holy spot on the pilgrimage route. The goddess traveled a considerable distance from Charan Paduka before stopping near a small cave. She asked a nearby ascetic not to disclose her presence. The goddess then took refuge inside the cave, meditating there for nine months, symbolizing the time by a fetus in the womb. This cave became known as Adikumari cave of the primordial virgin or Garbh Gufa womb-like cave.  When Bhaironnath reached this spot and questioned the ascetic, he revealed that pursuing the goddess was like inviting his own death. When Bhaironnath forcefully entered the cave, the goddess struck the back wall with her trishul, creating an exit and running away from there. She climbed a steep hill-face now known as Hathi Mattha wall shaped like an elephant's forehead. It is situated 2.5 km from the Adikumari cave. She then walked downwards to a plateau, now known as Sanjhi Chhat. The pursuit continued until the goddess reached another cave on the Trikuta mountain. She asked Hanuman to guard the entrance and prevent Bhaironnath from entering. When Bhaironnath tried to barge into the cave, a fierce battle erupted between Bhaironnath and Hanuman. When Hanuman almost lost the fight, the Goddess herself assumed the ferocious form of Goddess Mahakali and beheaded Bhaironnath. Bhaironnath's headless body fell near the cave, while his severed head landed far below in the valley, which is now known as Bhairon Ghati. As his head separated from his body, Bhaironnath's head was still alive due to his magic powers and regretted his actions and repeatedly begged the Goddess for forgiveness, worried that the future would call him a sinner. Hearing him call her Maa Mother repeatedly, the Goddess forgave him and declared that Bhaironnath will receive worship. One who visits Bhaironnath after Vaishno Devi will have their wishes fulfilled.  This promise ensured his moksha spiritual liberation. The Bhairon Temple, built at the spot where his head fell, is located about 1.5 km from Sanjhi Chhat. Vaishno Devi then went inside the new cave and transformed herself into three rocks pindikas, each of different colours. The white rock on the left represents Saraswati, the yellow rock in the middle represents Lakshmi and the black rock on the right represents Kali. Shridhar was heartbroken when he heard that the goddess disappeared and gave up food and water, eventually losing consciousness. Goddess Vaishno Devi then granted him a vision of the entire journey and the location of her divine abode. Following the directions shown in his dream, Shridhar eventually found the holy cave. Upon entering and finding the three rocks, Shridhar was blessed with four sons, and his descendants arranged for a grand temple to be built and continue the worship till this day. The shrine is located on the Trikuta mountain, approximately 2.5 km from the Bhairon Temple and stands at an elevation of 5,200 feet above sea level. Inside the holy cave, devotees see the goddess as the three stones. The central stones is sometimes identified specifically as Goddess Vaishno Devi, reflecting her origin as a form of Lakshmi or Vishnu's power. A stream of pure freshwater, known as the Charan Ganga Ganga that originates from the bottom of the stones, flows near the stones inside the cave. Worship is conducted with offerings such as flowers, betel nuts, holy scarves, and coconuts. It is believed that Goddess Vaishno Devi remains in deep meditation in this cave, awaiting the arrival of Lord Vishnu's Kalki avatar at the end of the Kali Yuga.