Ambika Mata Temple is a Hindu temple to the goddess Durga located in a cleft of rock in the village of Jagat about 50 km southeast of Udaipur in the state of Rajasthan in India.

Temple

This is a little-known temple, dating back to 961 AD with images of Durga and many other female divinities. Ambika, a form of the Hindu mother goddess, is the principal image in the shrine and worshipped as Shakti, a primeval source of energy. She is associated with Durga through her lion mount and is connected to the Jains through a vision advising Vimala about building his Adinath temple at Mount Abu.

The many fine sculptures have been excellently preserved. Exquisite details appear high on the exterior walls of the temple, above larger sculptures of gods or goddesses, with musicians, dancers, and singers of the heavenly court, as well as countless beautiful women. The richess and arrangement of the carving often has a curling vegetal motif.

The theme is of a mountain palace, a heavenly abode of the gods. The tower is covered with intricate motifs, including clouds, and is surrounded by small shikhara towers which echo the surrounding mountain peaks.

The architecture of the mountain palace, as the heavenly abode of the gods, echoes the temple which is their earthly residence.

References

External links

• Photo of temple
• Art of India
• Traditional Female Moral Exemplars in India
• Art of India
• Photo of carving
• Photo of Offering Channel