Ambika is the
yakshi of Neminatha with Sarvahna (according to
Digambara tradition) or Gomedha (according to
Śvētāmbara tradition) as
yaksha.
Worship A number of images and temples of Ambika are found in India. Goddess Ambika along with
Padmavati and
Chakreshvari is held as an esteemed deity and along with
Tirthankaras, is worshipped by Jains. Ambika and Padmavati are associated with
tantric rituals. These tantric rites involves
yantra-vidhi,
pitha-sthapana and
mantra-puja. Ambika is also called
Kalpalata and
kamana devi a goddess that fulfils. At
Vimal Vasahi, Ambika is carved
kalpalata, a wish fulfilling creeper. Ambika is also associated with childbirth and prosperity. Ambika is also worshiped as
Kuladevi or gotra-devi. Ambika is the kula-devi of the
Porwad(Pragvat)
Jain community. While she is worshipped by all
Śvetāmbara Murtipujaka Jains, she is specially revered by the
Porwads. According to a Digambara legend, after completing construction of
Gommateshwara statue,
Chavundaraya organised a
mahamastakabhisheka with five liquids, milk, tender coconut, sugar, nectar and water collected in hundreds of pots but liquid could not flow below the navel of the statue. Kushmandini appeared disguised as a poor old woman holding milk in the shell of half of a white
Gullikayi fruit and the
abhisheka was done from head to toe. Chavundaraya realised his mistake and did abhishek without pride and arrogance and this time
abhisheka was done from head to toe. Worship of Kushmandini devi or Ambika is an integral part of Jain rituals in
Shravanabelagola.
In literature •
Ambika-Kalpa,
Ambika-Tadamka,
Ambikatatanka,
Ambika-stuti,
Ambika-devi-stuti and
Bhairava-Padmavati-Kalpa are tantric text to worship Ambika. •
Ambika-stavana, is hymn to Ambika, compiled by Vastupala, minister of
Chalukyas, in the 13th century. •
Ambika-devi-kalpa of Acharya Jinprabha suri, 14th century. •
Aparajita-prccha is hymn to Ambika, compiled by Bhuvanadeva, 12th-13th century.
Iconography , 8th-9th century According to the tradition, her colour is golden and her vehicle is a lion. She has four arms. In her two right hands, she carries a mango and in the other a branch of a mango tree. In one of her left hands, she carries a rein and in the other she has her two sons, Priyankara and Shubhankara. In South India Ambika is shown to have dark blue complexion. Ambika is depicted as sashandevi for other tirthankars as well. Ambika is often represent with
Bahubali. Yaksha-Yakshi pair sculptures of Ambika and Sarvahanabhuti are one of the most favoured along with
Gomukha-
Chakreshwari and
Dharanendra-
Padmavati. Ambika has been popular an independent deity as well. It is speculated that the origin of Ambika is attributed to elements of three different deities - first, goddess riding on the lion from
Durga; Second, some goddess associated with mangoes and mango trees; Third,
Kushmanda. The
Amba-Ambika group of caves of
Manmodi Caves, dated 2nd century CE, has carving of Goddess Ambika. The oldest sculpture of Ambika is an idol from
Akota Bronzes dated 550—600 CE. A sculpture of Ambika was discovered at Karajagi village in Haveri taluk. The sculpture has a two-line Sanskrit inscription in
Nagari script about the date of its installation - "Ambikadevi, Shaka 1173, Virodhikrit. Samvatsara, Vaishakha Shuddha 5, Guruvara". This corresponds to Thursday, 27 April 1251 AD. File:Shri Mahavirji - Jain Museum - Ambika - Kushan Empire.jpg|Ambika sculpture from
Kushan Empire File:WLA lacma Jain Goddess Ambika.jpg|Image depicting Goddess Ambika in
LACMA, 6th-7th century File:Ambikā.jpg|Carving of Ambikadevi
Kalugumalai Jain Beds, 8th century File:'Digambara Yakshi Kushmandini' from Karnataka, India, c. 900, Norton Simon Museum.JPG|Image depicting Goddess Ambika from Karnataka, India, c. 900 CE,
Norton Simon Museum File:Goddess Ambika from Dhar.JPG|Sculpture of Goddess Ambika, 1034 AD,
British Museum File:Ambika mit zwei Kindern Rajasthan Museum Rietberg RVI 231.jpg|Goddess Ambika in
Museum Rietberg, 11th century File:Maharaja Chhatrasal Museum Dhubela Exhibit Item (5).JPG|Sculpture of Gomedh and Ambika at
Maharaja Chhatrasal Museum, 11th century File:Nswag, india, madhya pradesh, stele con yaksha-yakshini e jinas, XI sec..JPG|Sarvanubhuti and Kushmandini with Jinas, 11 century,
Art Gallery of New South Wales File:India, orissa, dea ambika, 1150-1200.JPG|Goddess Ambika idol,
Victoria and Albert Museum, 1150-1200 AD File:Goddess Ambika - Mediaeval Period - Rataul - ACCN 88-16 - Government Museum - Mathura 2013-02-23 5194.JPG|Goddess Ambika -
Medieval Period (
Government Museum, Mathura)
Main temples The
Amba-Ambika group of caves of
Manmodi Caves, dated 2nd century CE, is dedicated to Goddess Ambika. The
Ambika Temple, Girnar dates back 784 CE and is considered one of the oldest temple dedicated to Goddess Ambika. The worship of Goddess Ambika, the
tutelary deity of
Shri Munisuvrata-Nemi-Parshva Jinalaya, Santhu is popular among devotees. The major temples of Shri Ambika Devi include: • Ambikadevi temple at
Kodinar,
Saurashtra in the state of Gujarat is an important pilgrimage center built in
pre-medieval period. • Shri Kuladevi Ambikadevi Jain Temple,
Takhatgarh in
Pali district of Rajasthan state. • Shri Kuladevi Ambikadevi Jain Temple,
Padarli,
Rajasthan. • Shri
Ambika Temple, Girnar == See also ==