Vaishno Devi (also known as Mata Rani, Trikuta, Ambe and Vaishnavi) is a manifestation of the Hindu mother goddess Durga or Adi Shakti. The words "Maa" and "Mata" are commonly used in India for mother, and thus are often heavily used in connection with the goddess. Vaishno Devi took avatar from the combined energies of Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, and Mahasaraswati. Legend Author Abha Chauhan identifies Vaiṣṇō Dēvī with the power of Viṣṇu as well as the incarnation of Lakṣmī. Author Pintchman identifies with great goddess Mahadevi and says Vaiṣṇō Dēvī contains all powers and is associated with the entire creation as Mahadevi. Pintchman further states that, "Pilgrims identify Vaiṣṇō Dēvī with Durgā whom North Indians (and others) also name Sheranwali, "the Lion-rider" more than with any other goddess". Origin In the Varāha Purāṇa's Trikalā Māhātmya, she originated from Trikala (the goddess who was born from Trimurtis) and slayed an asura called Mahisha. Worship The Appearance of Vaishno Devi to Shridhar and the story of Bhairav Nath It is said that Bhairav Nath, a famous Tantric, saw the young Vaishno Devi at an agricultural fair and fell madly in love with her. Vaishno Devi fled into Trikuta hills to escape his amorous advances, later she assumed the form of Mahakali and cut off his head with her sword in a cave. Professor and author Tracy Pintchman narrates the story as, "About nine hundred years ago Vaishno Devi appeared in the form of a young girl and commanded a Brahmin named Shridhar from the village Hansali (next to present day Katra) to hold a feast (bhandara) for local people near Bhumika stream. At the time of feast, Bhairav Nath, a disciple of Goraknath, appeared and demanded meat and liquor. But Vaishno Devi told him he would get only vegetarian food, since this was a Brahmin's feast. Seeing her, Bhairav Nath lusted after her. To escape him, she ran away stopping at various places on the trail up the Trikuta mountain. There places are now known as Banganga (Ganga river emerged from arrow), Charan Paduka (Holy footprints), Ardha Kunwari the place where she is said to have remained for nine months in a cave, and finally at Bhavan, the cave that is now known as her home. There taking the form of Chamundi (a form of Kali), she beheaded Bhairav Nath. His body held at the entrance to the cave, and his head landed