Ambika Mata Temple

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. [cite web
url=http://www.templenet.com/encwest1.html
title=Temples of Western India
publisher=
accessdate=2006-09-15 ]

Temple

This is a little-known temple, dating back to 961 AD with images of Durga [cite web
url=http://www.art-and-archaeology.com/india/jagat/jagat8.html
title= Durga Ambika Mata temple, Jagat - Photo
publisher=
accessdate=2006-09-19 ] [cite web
url=http://www.art-and-archaeology.com/india/jagat/21-11a.jpg
title=Durga with bow - Photo
publisher=
accessdate=2006-09-19 ] [cite web
url=http://www.art-and-archaeology.com/india/jagat/21-02a.jpg
title=Durga with snakes - Photo
publisher=
accessdate=2006-09-19 ] 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. [cite web
url=http://www.templenet.com/shakti.html
title=Abodes of Shakti
publisher=
accessdate=2006-09-15 ] 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. [cite web
url=http://www.art-and-archaeology.com/india/jagat/jagat1.html
title= Ambika Mata Temple
publisher=
accessdate=2006-09-15 ]

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, [cite web
url=http://www.art-and-archaeology.com/india/jagat/jagat18.html
title=Celestial Musicians
publisher=
accessdate=2006-09-23 ] dancers, and singers of the heavenly court, as well as countless beautiful women. [cite web
url=http://www.art-and-archaeology.com/india/jagat/jagat17.html
title= Surasundaris
publisher=
accessdate=2006-09-23 ] 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. [cite web
url=http://www.art-and-archaeology.com/india/jagat/jagat6.html
title=Corner detail
publisher=
accessdate=2006-09-15 ]

References

External links

* [http://www.art-and-archaeology.com/india/jagat/jagat1.html Photo of temple]
* [http://www.eccentrix.com/members/jurate/2.htm Art of India]
* [http://www.infinityfoundation.com/mandala/s_es/s_es_kishw_EAA.htm Traditional Female Moral Exemplars in India ]
* [http://www.eccentrix.com/members/jurate/2.htm Art of India]
* [http://www.asia.si.edu/devi/fulldevi/deviNeilAmbika.htm Photo of carving]
* [http://www.art-and-archaeology.com/india/jagat/jagat2.html Photo of Offering Channel]