is worshipped at
Pavagadh's Kalika Mata Temple.Dating from the 10th-11th centuries, Kalika Mata is the oldest temple in the area. According to
R. K. Trivedi in
Fairs and Festivals of Gujarat (1961), the goddess Kalika Mata was initially worshipped by the local
Bhil and
Koli People, When the toe of devi sati fell at the Pavagadh's highest tip at that time Maa Mahakali byself were self-installed here and has been installed since time and will sit here till eternity. Maa
Mahakali is Adi Parashakti. Even Vishvamitra did taap (meditation) on Pavagadh Hill summit. Pavagadh's Kalika Mata is also worshipped by the
Adivasi. The temple was described in
Gangadas Pratap Vilasa Natakam, a 15th-century drama. Named in honor of the Goddess
Kali, the temple is believed to be the Kali Mata's residence, and is one of the
Shakti Peethas, as the right leg toe of the goddess
Sati was fallen here. Pavagadh was an ancient
Jain pilgrimage. There were several attempts to destroy evidence of its
Jain heritage with the latest attempt on 16th June 2024 when idols of the ancient Sopaan jinalaya were vandalised. Jains appealed in the court and the court passed an order not to destroy facts. Its Jain history dates back to 3rd century BC. Pavagadh's Jain history can be traced as: - • In 1055 CE,
Śvetāmbara monk Acharya Gunsagarsuri consecrated a new temple of
Jirawala Parshvanath and reconstructed an ancient 52-shrine temple of
Abhinandanswami. This was when he also consecrated the idol of
Mahakali goddess which was later converted and worshipped by Hindus. • In 12th century CE, the Achalgacch of the
Śvetāmbara sect of Jainism was established here by Acharya
Aryarakshitsuri. He was unhappy with the wrong practices that had crept into the conduct of Jain monks due to the influence of
yatis. He attempted reforms, but failed. Therefore, he ascended the hill to perform
Sallekhana. Legend says that demi-goddess
Mahakali appeared before him and requested the Acharya to not perform
Sallekhana and said that he was the only one who could spread the truth. She asked him to start a new order based on the truth of the
Agamas and assured him that she would safeguard the lay-followers of the new order and that they would prosper. Thus, in 1113 CE, Acharya Aryarakshitsuri founded the Achalgacch (or Viddhipaksh) at Pavagadh, and installed demi-goddess
Mahakali as the
Adishthayika () of the
gaccha. The founder
Śrāvakas of the
gaccha installed the idol of
Mahakali on the hill to mark their respects. This is the idol and the shrine which was later encroached upon by Hindus. • Under guidance of Acharya
Kalyansagarsuri, a monk and reformer of Achalgacch, sravakas Sheth Vardhaman and Sheth Padamshin reconstructed the shrine of
Mahakali in 16th century CE. • In a laudatory poem dedicated to
Jirawala Parshvanatha and composed by Jain monk Dipvijay Kaviraaj in late 18th century CE, the temples existing here are described in detail, including the Mahakali shrine. Several monks of the Achalgacch such as Acharya Mahendraprabhasuri, Acharya Merutungasuri, and Acharya Jaykesarisuri amongst many, and those of the
Tapagacch such as Acharya Dharmaratnasuri, Hemvimalsuri, Acharya Laxmisagarsuri, Acharya Bhuvansundarsuri, etc. consecrated numerous idols on the hill. According to several
Śvetāmbara scriptures, at one time, these shrines were considered to be of equal rank and importance as those atop the hill at
Palitana. ==Architecture and fittings==