Ambika (Jainism)

Ambika
An image of Ambika in Cave 34 of the Ellora Caves

In Jainism, Ambika (Sanskrit: अम्बिका, Odia: ଅମ୍ବିକା Ambikā "Mother") or Ambika Devi (अम्बिका देवी Ambikā Devī "the Goddess-Mother") is the Yakṣi "dedicated attendant deity" or Śāsana Devī "protector goddess" of the 22nd Tirthankara, Neminatha. She is also known as Ambai, Amba and Amra Kushmandini.

Sculptures

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, April 27, 1251 AD.

Iconography

File:Goddess Ambika - Mediaeval Period - Rataul - ACCN 88-16 - Government Museum - Mathura 2013-02-23 5194.JPG

Goddess Ambika - Medieval Period (Government Museum, Mathura)

File:India, orissa, dea ambika, 1150-1200.JPG

Ambika idol from Orissa carved during 1150-1200 AD

According to the tradition, her colour is golden and her vehicle is 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.

Temples dedicated to Ambika

The major temples of Shri Ambika Devi include:

• Shri Neminath Adhisthayaka Nagotra Solanki Gotria Kuladevi Shri Ambikadevi Jinalaya in Santhu near Bagra (Marwar)|Bagra, in Jalore district of Rajasthan state.
• Shri Kuladevi Ambikadevi Jain Temple, Takhatgarh in Pali district of Rajasthan state.
• Shri Kuladevi Ambikadevi Jain Temple, Padarli in Rajasthan state.

Gallery

• WLA lacma Jain Goddess Ambika.jpg

  Goddess Ambika (Los Angeles County Museum of Art)

• Ambika, Madhya Pradesh, India, 8th-9th century - Royal Ontario Museum - DSC09661.JPG

  Ambika, Madhya Pradesh, India, 8th-9th century - Royal Ontario Museum

• Ambika - Mediaeval Period - ACCN 00-D-7 - Government Museum - Mathura 2013-02-23 5409.JPG

  Ambika - Medieval Period (Government Museum, Mathura)

References

• Tiwari, M.N.P. (1989). Ambika in Jaina arts and literature, New Delhi: Bharatiya Jnanpith.

External links

• An image of Ambikā Devī in the British Museum, London
• An Image of Yaksha & Yakshini of 22nd Trithankara Neminatha
• Album of Photographs of Shri Ambika Devi
• An Image of Shri Ambikadevi, Munigiri, Tamil Nadu
• A Picture of Shri Ambikadevi, Jain Thirthankaras & Acharyas
• An Image of Shri Ambikadevi in Chennai Museum
• One of the images of Shri Ambikadevi carved in various forms at Jagat