"Maa Vindhyavasini" :The Universal Mother

'You are the fullness of moon and you are Kritiwasa. You are the Saraswati of Valmiki and Smriti of Dwepayan', the scriptures say. Universal Mother Maa Vindhyawasini has been worshipped and praised by Rishis, Munis, and devotees for ages. She has been honoured as Ishwari Naraini Devi and gods praise her as creative force and she has been accepted by Trilok – Akash, Patal and Mrityulok.
'You are sidhi, dhriti, medha, srividya, sannate, mati, sandhya, ratriprabha, nidra, kalratri, arya, katyayni, kaushiki, brahmacharini, janavi, sidh-senani, ugrachari, mahatatrapa, jaya, vijya, pushti, chamma, daya, heyshthaya, yamabhagini and neelkaushyawasini.', the scriptures say.
Jagatatma has been described as the savior of her devotees in the form of biroopa, birupapshi and vishalakshmi. Her abode is in high hills, dense forests, rivers, gardens and the houses of her worshippers. She is the preserver of the world and she has been worshipped by sherbers, berbers and pulinds. Her flag holds peacock as her symbol.
Vindhyawasini has her abode on Vindhyachal hills and she is surrounded by cocks, goats, sheep, lions and tigers. The whole Vindhyachal mountain ranges reserved and echoes with the sound of ghantaas (bells)'. She is Trishulpatti, Navmi of Krishna Paksha and Ekadashi of Shukla Paksha and the sister of Baldvji. She is the ultimate poojya of all creatures and it is she who is base of all faiths on the earth. She brings salvation of the people. This great mother is called Nandputri, the helper of gods, wearer of good clothes and she is also addressed as Raatri and Sandhya.
Rishis call her with the name of Savitri and she is also the mother of Vedas and Mantras. She is Brahmacharya in maidens, Saubhagyaswaroopa for married women and Deeksha among Brahmacharyas. The astrologers call her Prabha and she is existent as Rohini in Nakshatras. She is worshipped in royal palaces and in the confluences of rivers.

She is the Sita of former learners of all creatures, reasoning of knowledge of rishis and the manasi of gods. She is also called Sura Devi for desirous gods. She is aesthetic beauty of Indra with her thousands eyes, she is aranya for Agnihotris.
She has been worshipped in many names – she is swaha, tripti, ghriti, medha, basumati, hope of human beings, santushti of krits, prabha, shakuni, pootna, rewati, vasudaren, sleep of all creatures and mohini for all.
Dedantees call her brahma vidya. Khbar and bapat are her forms. She is parbati among women and paurani of rishis.
The worshippers of 'shakti' call her the words of Prajapati. She is Arundhati of Satees and she is also called Indrani. Rishis pray her saying 'you are the saviour of all. You protect your devotees on river side in the forests in foreign countries, under the state punishment – almost everywhere.'
Rishis who have been worshipping her for ages say that if a person prays her with full devotion, the holy mother fulfills his desire in three months, in six months, she gives a good boon, and in nine months, she gives us divya drishti. She gives Yatheshta Siddhi after a devoted prayer of one year.

This goddess is described as full of generous qualities. She blesses and helps us under all kinds of calamities – bondages, death, death of children, loss of money, sickness and fear of death – all fears are removed by this great goddess Vindhayawasini.
'Vindhya Dham' is situated on the Southern Bank of river Ganga. It covers the middle part of Vindhyachal Mountain. Its location becomes unique as on one side i.e. to the north is river Ganga and on the southern side extends great mountain Vindhyachal. Maa Vindhyavasini permeates bur power of all though the surrounding areas while she herself is seated on Laxmibhoot Shilakhand of the Vindhyachal hills. She is also called Devi Paramba. There are many citations about her in Puranas. Waaman Puran tells that Lord Indra brought Maa Durga to these hills from far north via sky route. It is said that Asuras had grown very powerful in their region. The gods were frequently defeated by demons. Hence, the being of Gods requested to land mother Durga here on these hills and destroy the culprits.
According to another myth after the 'deh+yoag' (Self immolation) of Sati, Lord Shiva took the dead body through the sky. As her body had become burnt badly, her limbs fell on route. One part of her body fell here in Vindhyas too and later became Shaktipeeth. Due to Achal power of devi Achala, this Vindhya dham became achal.
It is a remarkable fact that term Vindhyachal does not represent mountain but it represents the supernatural power of goddess, who herself is Laxmi Swaroopa.
Maa Vindhyavasini is the source of radiance – Achievement gained here are permanent. Even chanchala Laxmi became 'chanchal' here. If worshipped properly, she awards the devotee with all kinds of boons – physical as well as spiritual. Her blessings permeates the whole universe, look aside the earth.