SYNOPSIS
The 11 episode serial “ JAI MATA VAISHNO DEVI KI” Is inspired by the book “Vaishno Devi” written by veteran journalist of Jammu Mulk Raj Saraf and Suraj Saraf.
The serial unveils the unsaid divine submission of Mata Vaishnodevi to Shri Ram in Tretayug.
Created by divine powers of Maa Lakshmi ,Maa Sarasvati ,Maa Kaali to vanquish the demons infesting the earth, Vaishno Devi is born to King Ratnakar and Queen Vijaya.
During her Gurukul schooling she excels in all fine arts be it archery, sword fighting, dancing, sculpturing and at times displays her divine form by performing Devi “Tandav” or taming of “Vaahan” Tiger.
To protect her father’s kingdom princess warrior Vaishnavi battles sea demons of Kambu Dynasty, who reside under the sea as the hidden army of Demon King Raavan of Lanka.
From her birth Vaishnavi had submitted herself to Shri Hari Bhagvaan Vishnu.
In the battlefield princess Vaishnavi confronts Shri Ram as the prince of Ayodhya. Vaishnavi divine submission Blossoms when she sees Shri Hari Vishnu in form of Shri Ram.
In the 13th century Vaishno Devi Mata reveals her presence at “Trikut” Mountain to Pandit Shridhar her Param bhakt .
She slays Tantrik “Bhaironaath” in the climax performing the Devi tandav.
Mata Vaishno devi’s miracles, healing powers and bhakti spreads globally. She is truly a divine mother to her devotees. At the end of Kaliyug, after the technological war between Robots and Humans, she meets and merges with Kalki avatar of Vishnu.
TREATMENT
The series is an attempt to re-define “Indian Ithihaas or Puranas” for the internet age. Just like the Sagar’s were the pioneers in starting the genre of mythology and fantasy on the television screen with their epics shows like Ramayana (1987), Vikram Aur Betaal (1985), Shri Krishna (1992 onwards), Alif Laila (1995), Hatim (2003), Sai Baba (2005), Ramayan on NDTV Imagine (2008), Mahima Shani Dev Ki (2008), Jai Jag Janini Ma Durga (2012), Narayan Narayan (2015) etc. similarly for the first time a web-series has been made by the family of Ramanand Sagar based on the legends and myths of Vaishno Devi Mata namely Shri Prem Sagar son of Late Sagar, and Shri Shiv Sagar, Grandson of Late Sagar. The Story has been written by Prem Sagar, and the screenplay by Shiv Sagar. Shiv Sagar is the creative director of the series.
The first 7 episodes are set in Treta Yuga in the magical Kingdom of Ratnagiri which is located on Western Ghats on the sea-shore in the present day India. The Kingdom is ruled by King Ratnakar and Queen Vijaya who are not able to beget a child for many decades. This is the same time when Shri Vishnu takes a human incarnation or an avatar and is born as Shri Ram to Dasrath, King of Ayodhya.
With great penance to Shri Hari, a daughter is finally born to them, whom they name Vaishnavi. King Ratnakar is the Ansh Avatar of Samudra Devta who had expressed his desire to experience the Bal Leelas of Mata Lakshmi, since when she came out of the Samudra Manthan, she was already grown up. Thus Vaishnavi who is another form of Lakshmi takes an avatar in the home of King Ratankar.
A divine love story unfolds between her and Rama, who is the prince of Ayodhya at the time. She meet Rama when he is on a Tirth Yatra near the Ratnagiri Kingdom. Before she can express any of her emotions to Ram, he leaves for Ayodhya. Later on, she comes to know that Rama is on his way to Mithila for the Swayambar, and she is heart broken when she gets the news that Rama has married Sita. When Rama goes for exile for 14 years, she too gives us the kingdom and becomes a Sanyasini.
Vaishnavi meets Rama, when he is searching for Sita and about to build a bridge across to Lanka. She expresses her feelings for him, but Rama tells her that in this avatar he has pledged to take one wife only, and she should go to Trikut Parvat and do “Jan Kalyan” till he comes back to earth again as Kalki Avatar.
The last 4 episodes tell the story of Shridhar Pandit who re-discovered the shrine in the 13th century. The Climax of the series is a flash-forward scene set in the future, in the darkest age of Kali, when the machines and robots have taken over the world, and Lord Vishnu takes the avatar of Kalki. Then our protagonist who is still waiting on the peak of Trikut Parvat finally walk into the horizon with him.
The series is being Co-produced by Aerika Cineworks and Sagar World Multimedia.
It has been presented by J.C. Chaudhary and Co-produced by Aashish Chaudhary and Aakash Chaudhary, Prem Sagar, Neelam Sagar and Shiv Sagar.
The director of the series is Mr. Dharmesh Shah.
The series has been shot in Gujarat, Maharastra, Katra and Vrindavan over 50 days outdoor and indoor schedules just after the second Covid wave.
The series has a total of 18 musical fusion pieces including situational chaupais and dohas.
NOTES
Like with most old Shrines, it is not possible to ascertain when exactly the pilgrimage to the Holy Shrine started. A geological study of the Holy Cave has indicated its age to be nearly a million years. Vedic literature gives no reference to the worship of any female deity, although the mountain Trikuta does find its mention in Rigveda, the oldest of the four Vedas The practice of worshipping Shakti, largely started in the Puranic period.
The first mention of the Mother Goddess is in the epic Mahabharat. When the armies of Pandavs and Kaurvas were arrayed in the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Arjun, the chief warrior of Pandavs upon advice of Sri Krishna; meditated upon the Mother Goddess and sought Her blessings for victory. This is when Arjun addresses the Mother Goddess as ‘Jambookatak Chityaishu Nityam Sannihitalaye’, which means ‘you who always dwell in the temple on the slope of the mountain in Jamboo’ (probably referring to the present day Jammu).
It is also generally believed that the Pandavs were the first to build the temples at Kol Kandoli and Bhawan in reverence and gratitude for the Mother Goddess. On a mountain, just adjacent to the Trikuta Mountain and overlooking the Holy Cave are five stone structures, which are believed to be the rock symbols of the five Pandavs.
Perhaps the oldest reference of the visit of a historical figure to the Holy Cave is that of Guru Gobind Singh who is said to have gone there via Purmandal. The old foot track to the Holy Cave passed through this well-known pilgrimage centre.
Some traditions believe this Shrine to be the holiest of all Shaktipeeths (a place where the Mother Goddess, the Eternal Energy has Her abode) since the skull of Mata Sati fell here. Others believe that her right arm had fallen here. But some scriptures do not agree with it. They do agree that at a place called Gandarbal in Kashmir, the right arm of Sati had fallen. Nevertheless, in the Holy Cave of Shri Mata Vaishno Deviji, one does find stone remains of a human hand, popularly known as Varad Hast (the hand that grants boons and blessings).
As per the legend, during the period when the Goddess was busy in annihilating the Asuras, Her three main manifestations viz. Mata Maha Kali, Mata Maha Lakshmi and Mata Maha Saraswati got together one day and pooled their collective Tejas or spiritual strength.
A stunningly bright light emanated from the place where the Tejas of the three manifestations coalesced and a beautiful young girl emerged out of this Tejas. The young girl asked them, "Why have I been created?'' The Devis explained to her that they had created her so that she would live on earth and spend her time in upholding righteousness.
The Devis added, "Now, go and take birth in the house of Ratankar and his wife who reside in the southern part of India, and who are great devotees of ours. Live on earth. Uphold righteousness and evolve yourself spiritually so that you reach higher levels of consciousness. Once you have attained the appropriate level of consciousness you will merge into Shri Vishnu and become one with him.'' So saying they blessed the girl.
Sometimes later a very beautiful girl child was born to Ratankar and his wife. The couple named the child Vaishnavi. The girl right from her childhood displayed a hunger for knowledge which was like a vortex and which no amount of teaching and learning could sufficiently satiate.
Subsequently, Vaishnavi started looking into her inner self for knowledge, and soon learned the art of meditation and realized that meditation and penance only could bring her close to her greater objective. Vaishnavi thus relinquished all household comforts and went deep into the forest for Tapasaya (meditation).
Meanwhile, Shri Ram, during his fourteen years of exile happened to visit Vaishnavi who recognized him immediately as no ordinary being but the incarnation of Shri Vishnu, and immediately asked him to merge her into himself so that she could become one with the supreme creator.
However, Shri Ram, knowing that it was not the appropriate time, dissuaded her by saying that he would visit her again after the end of his exile, and at that time if she succeeded in recognizing him, he would fulfil her wish. True to his words, Shri Ram visited her again after being victorious in the battle, but this time he did so in the disguise of an old man.
Unfortunately, Vaishnavi was unable to recognize him this time and was distraught. Upon this, Shri Ram consoled her that the appropriate time for her being one with the creator had not come, and that time would come eventually in 'Kaliyug' when He (Shri Ram) would be in his incarnation of 'Kalki'.
Shri Ram also directed her to meditate, and set up an Ashram at the base of Trikuta hills, to elevate her level of spirituality so as to bless mankind and rid the poor and destitute of their sufferings. Only then would 'Vishnu' merge her into himself.
Vaishnavi, immediately set off for the northern part and after immense hardships, reached the foot of the Trikuta Hills. After reaching there she set up her ashram there and began to meditate.
As predicted by Shri Ram, her glory spread far and wide, and people began to flock to her Ashram to seek her blessings. As time passed, MahaYogi Guru Goraksh Nath ji who had a vision of the episode between Shri Ram and Vaishnavi in the retrospective time frame, became curious to find out whether Vaishnavi has been able to attain a high level of spirituality or not. He, therefore, sent his most able disciple 'Bhairon Nath' to find out the truth.
Meanwhile, Vaishnavi decided to shed off her human form and assuming the face of a rock she immersed her self into meditation forever. Thus Vaishnavi, in the form of a five and a half feet tall rock with three heads or the Pindies on the top is the ultimate destination of a devotee. These Pindies constitute the Sanctum Sanctorum of the holy cave known as the shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji, which is revered by one and all.
While various versions of the origin and legend of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji are prevalent, there seems to be unanimity on the discovery of Shrine around 700 years back by the same Pandit Shridhar.
CASTING
Queen Vijaya: Dipika Topiwala (Sita in Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan)
King Ratnakar: Yashodhan Rana (Played Lord Shiva in “Om Namo Shivaya” hit serial on Doordarshan)
Pandit Shridar: Sandeep Mohan (Arjun in Shri Krishna series of Ramanand Sagar)
Ravan: Tarun Khanna (Ravan in serial, “Devo ke Dev Mahadev”, Mahadev in “Radha Krishna” on Star Plus)
Shri Ram/Krishna/Vishnu/Kalki: Siddhant Issar (Theatre actor, son of Puneet Issar, Duryodhan in the epic series Mahabharata)
Vaishno Devi (older): Ishita Ganguly (Vignaharta Ganesh – Mansa Devi, Draupadi in Radha- Krishna)
Vaishno Devi (younger): Mahi Soni (Tenali Rama (2017) and Tujhse Hai Raabta (2018). She made her silver screen debut with Fauji Calling (2021)).
Hanuman: Danish Akhtar (Siya ke Ram – Hanuman)
Narad: Rajesh Puri (veteran actor done over 250 films)