Information of Amba Mata Temple, Junagadh, Banaskantha, Gujarat

The Amba Mata Temple is considered to be amongst the main places of tourist interest in Junagadh city of Gujarat. To be specific the temple is actually situated in the town of Ambaji in the Banaskantha district of Gujarat. This particular temple is known to be included among the ancient most temples of the country. It is positioned at the summit of the Girnar Mountain which is known to be quite pictorial. The Amba Mata temple is quite an inspiring pilgrimage site in relation to the Hindus. The Amba Mata Temple in Junagadh is devoted to an embodiment of the supreme Goddess Amba.

Amba Mata Temple Religious Significance

The Temple of Amba Mata in Gujarat was constructed during the 12th century period and offers a magnificent sight of the town situated below the mountain. The temple of Amba is recognized by the Shakta Shaktism Hinduism sect to be quite a sacrosanct temple. It is widely believed that this is the place where the heart of Sati fell. In other words it can be stated that it is one of the Shakti Peethas of the country. The reference of Shakti Peetha grade is known to have been derived from the mythological beliefs of 'Sati's self immolation' and the 'Daksha Yagya'. Shakti Peethas refers to those places in various regions where the various body parts of the Sati Devi's dead body were believed to have fallen. These Shakti Peethas are considered to be greatly sacred by the Shaivism or Shaivist Hinduism sect. The Goddess Amba is learnt to be majorly worshipped and adored by the divine beings of the Pre-Aryan race. Imprinted footsteps of the Amba Goddess can be observed in the Girnar Mountain. Impressions of the chariot of Goddess Amba were also found here prior to commencement of the construction of the temple.

Amba Mata Temple Mythology & History

The Temple of Amba Mata is amongst the 51 earliest Shakti Peetha Tirths in the country. The Shakti Peethas are known to be those places where the body pieces of Sati fell in India. Goddess Sati or Shakti is believed to be the female principal in Hinduism or rather Hindu religion and is also considered to be the presiding deity with regard to the Shakta sect. The Goddess Shakti is also known to be the Goddess of power and is learnt to be the embodiment of Adi Shakti with three main appearances Mahakali known as the goddess related to wiping out of evil, Durga known to be the Goddess of power and courage and also as Goddess Gowri known as the Goddess of generosity. The Goddess Amba Mata is known to be the Adya Shakti meaning the prehistoric mother goddess or female power. According to mythology it is supposed that Daksha Prajapati who was the father-in-law of Lord Shiva felt quite offended when his son-in-law that is Lord Shiva failed to show him respect by not standing up while greeting him. Thus, for the purpose of disrespecting Lord Shiva, Daksha Prajapati arranged for a yagna, the ceremony of offerings along with recitation of Vedic mantras and intentionally did not request Lord Shiva to participate. His daughter, Sati also went uninvited to the yagna and felt insulted when everyone failed to observe her presence. This made her jump into the fire. When Shiv came to known about it, he carried her dead body and kept rushing about in immense anguish. This compelled Lord Vishnu to interfere and he shredded the body of Sati into pieces in order to aid Shiv return to his calm. According to mythological references, one of the body pieces or to be specific the heart of Sati is believed to have fallen at Ambaji where the Temple of Amba Mata is located.