Woman Detained with Firearm at Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in J&K
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Synopsis
On March 18, a woman was arrested at the Mata Vaishno Devi temple in Jammu and Kashmir after officials found a pistol and ammunition in her possession. The weapon's license had expired, prompting an investigation.
Key Takeaways
- A woman was arrested for possessing a pistol at the temple.
- The weapon's license had expired years ago.
- The temple is one of the most significant Hindu shrines.
- It attracts millions of devotees annually.
- The temple is managed by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board.
Jammu, March 18 (NationPress) A female pilgrim was taken into custody after a pistol was found in her possession at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine located in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district, officials reported on Tuesday.
The authorities stated that Jyoti Gupta, who claims to be a retired police constable from Delhi, was apprehended after a pistol along with six rounds of ammunition were seized from her at a security checkpoint during the night of March 14 to 15.
“The weapon’s license had lapsed several years ago. An inquiry into the matter has commenced,” officials noted.
The Mata Vaishno Devi temple, which is highly esteemed among Hindus, is situated atop the Trikuta Hills in Reasi district, at an elevation of 1500 meters.
Annually, the cave temple attracts approximately one crore devotees. The monetary offerings made by devotees amount to several crores of rupees each year.
The shrine is overseen by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), led by J&K Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha.
The temple has been in existence since 1846 when Maharaja Gulab Singh established the Dharmarth Trust to manage various temples within his domain.
The Vaishno Devi temple was included in this trust, which remained under the control of Gulab Singh's descendants after India gained independence. His descendant Karan Singh served as the hereditary trustee of the temple until 1986.
In that year, then J&K Governor Jagmohan enacted legislation that transferred the oversight of the Vaishno Devi temple from the Dharmarth Trust and the hereditary priests to a distinct Shrine Board.
Vaishno Devi is associated with the strength of Vishnu and represents the incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi. Numerous religious historians link Vaishno Devi with the great Goddess Mahadevi, asserting that she embodies all powers and is connected with the entirety of creation as Mahadevi.
Devotees also associate Vaishno Devi with Durga (a form of Lakshmi), with many referring to the deity as Seranwali, which means 'the lion rider'.
It is believed that Vaishno Devi represents the future bliss of Kalki, who will be born as Rama's wife. The temple holds sacred significance for both Hindus and Sikhs. Notable saints, including Swami Vivekananda, have visited this sacred site.
