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Ambika Temple, also known as Ambaji Temple, is a temple dedicated to goddess Ambika on
The early temple was built before 784 CE (probably in middle of the 8th century) because
Girnar
Girnar is an ancient hill in Junagadh, Gujarat, India. It is one of the holiest pilgrimages of Jains, where the 22nd Tirthankara, Tirthaṅkar, Lord Neminath attained omniscience, and later nirvana at its highest peak (''Neminath Shikhar''), ...
hill in Junagadh
Junagadh () is the city and headquarters of Junagadh district in the Indian state of Gujarat. Located at the foot of the Girnar hills, southwest of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar (the state capital), it is the seventh largest city in the state. It i ...
, Gujarat
Gujarat () is a States of India, state along the Western India, western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the List of states and union territories ...
, India. The earliest mention of the temple is recorded in the 8th century. The present temple was built in the 15th century.
History
The early temple was built before 784 CE (probably in middle of the 8th century) because Digambara
''Digambara'' (; "sky-clad") is one of the two major Jain schools and branches, schools of Jainism, the other being ''Śvetāmbara'' (white-clad). The Sanskrit word ''Digambara'' means "sky-clad", referring to their traditional monastic pract ...
Acharya Jinasen's ''Harivamsapurana'' ( Saka Samvat 705, 783 CE) mentions the temple. An inscription dated Vikram Samvat 1249 (1192 CE) mentions Vaghela minister Vastupala
Vastupāla (died 1240 CE) was a prime minister of the Vaghela dynasty, Vāghelā king Vīradhavala and his successor Vīsaladeva, who ruled in what is now the Gujarat region of India, in the early 13th century. Although he served in an administra ...
's pilgrimage to Ambika temple on Raivataka (Girnar) hill. Narendraprabhsuri mentions that Vastupala had installed idols of himself and his brother Tejapala in the temple. Jinharshasuri mentions that Vastupala and his brother Tejapala visited as well as built the large ''mandapa
A ''mandapa'' or ''mantapa'' () is a pillared hall or pavilion for public rituals in Indian architecture, especially featured in Hindu temple architecture and Jain temple architecture.
''Mandapas'' are described as "open" or "closed" dependin ...
'' of the temple and ''parikara'' of Ambika. A ''praśast''i eulogy given at the end in a golden lettered copy of '' Kalpasutra'' dated Vikram Samvat 1524 (1468 CE) mentions that a Shreshthi (merchant) named Samal Sah restored and renovated the Ambika temple on Girnar. As mentioned in Jain pilgrimage travelogues, the temple had Ambika as a Jain ''yakshika'' deity. The Girnar ''patta'' from Samvat 1507 in Ranakpur Jain temple
Ranakpur Jain temple or Chaturmukha Dharana Vihara is a Śvētāmbara Jain temple at Ranakpur dedicated to ''Tirthankara'' Rishabhanatha. The temple is located in the village of Ranakpur near Sadri in the Pali district of Rajasthan. It is a ...
also depicts Ambika in the similar manner. The temple is built according to the Jain tradition and the ''mandapa'' ceiling match with the Girnar Jain temples
There is a group of temples of Jainism on Mount Girnar near Junagadh in Junagadh District, Junagadh district, Gujarat, India. While almost all the temples belong to the Śvetāmbara sect, some also belong to the Digambara sect. The hill and so ...
. According to M. A. Dhaky, the temple came under a control of the Brahminical tradition in the late medieval period. The original idol was lost during the subsequent attacks and currently a ''falahi'' is venerated in the temple.
The present temple is built around the 15th century. So the temple construction, renovation and reconstruction history extends from the mid-8th century to the 15th century.
Architecture
The present temple is built in the traditional Indian temple architecture of the late 15th century.Pilgrimage
The temple is much resorted to by newly married couples. The bride and bridegroom have their clothes tied together, and attended by their male and female relations, adore the goddess and present coconuts and other offerings. This pilgrimage is supposed to procure for the couple along continuance of wedded bliss. The temple is visited by Hindu as well as Jain pilgrims.See also
*Girnar ropeway
Girnar ropeway is a Aerial tramway, ropeway on Mount Girnar in Junagadh district, Gujarat, India. First proposed in 1983, the construction started only in September 2018 due to government approval delays and litigation. The construction and ope ...
* Ambika (Jainism)
In Jainism, Ambika (, "Mother") or Ambika Devi ( "the Goddess-Mother") is the "dedicated attendant deity" or "protector goddess" of the 22nd Tirthankara, Neminatha. She is also known as ''Ambai'', ''Amba'', ''Kushmandini'' and ''Amra ...
References
{{Hindu temples in Gujarat Jain temples in Gujarat Hindu temples in Gujarat Shakti temples Tourist attractions in Junagadh district Māru-Gurjara architecture Junagadh