History and Significance of Ambaji Temple
The Ambaji Temple is situated on the Arasur Hill, near border of Gujarat and Rajashthan, in Ambaji town, Gujarat. This holy shrine is also known as Arasuri Ambe, one of the 51 Shakti Peetha Tirth and center of Shakti Puja since centuries. There are 12 main Shakti Peetha Tirth, significant places of pilgrimage for the worship of Shakti, namely, Ma Bhagwati Mahakali Maha Shakti at Ujjain, Ma Kamakshi at Kanchipuram, Mata Bramaramba at Srisailam, Shri Kumarika at Kanyakumari, Mataji Ambaji at Gujarat, Mata Mahalaxmidevi at Kolhapur, Devi Lalita at Prayag, Vindhya Vasini at Vindhya, Vishalakshi at Varanasi, Mangalavati at Gaya and Sundari at Bangal & Guhyeshwari Temple in Nepal.
Ambaji Temple is key shrine of goddess, worshiped from pre Vedic period. As per the Markandeya Puran, Sati, daughter of King Daksh Prajapati, was great devotee of Lord Shiva and did intense penance to please Lord Shiva. Finally Lord Shiva had accepted her hand for marriage. But King Daksha was not happy with this marriage.
To insult Lord Shiva, Daksha held Yagya and invited all God and reputed persons except the Sati and Lord Shiva. Sati had decided to confront her father at Yagya. Lord Shiva tried to stop her by doing this but Sati went to Yagya.
King Daksh did not welcomed her and use this occasion to insult her and Lord Shiva in front of all God and reputed individuals. Sati could not bear this humiliation and jumped into holy pyre of the Yagya.
Once Lord Shiva got this information; he was deeply pain and anger on Daksh. Lord Shiva had created Virbhadra and Bhadrakali with extra ordinary super power and order to kill Daksh and his army. Then Lord Shiva picked up Sati with burning body and unleashed his fury in form of legendary Tandava, dance of destruction. The other God and people started worried about safety of whole universe and requested Lord Vishnu the supreme Lord, to help out in this situation.
Lord Vishnu used the Sudarashan Chakra and cut the body of Ma Devi Sati in pieces. As per the legends, Sati’s heart fell over spot marked by Ambaji Temple. Thus this temple is one of the main Shaki Peeth and Siddh Peeth across 51 Shakti Peeth.
Worship of Vishwa Yantra at Amabji Temple
Another important note of this temple is, there is no idol or photo of Ma Devi Ambe but it has Yantra. There is a Gokh -cave in the wall on which gold plated marble inscription of a triangle Vishwa Yantra is fixed. It is copper plate with Vedic text on sacred geometry inscribed on with figures and Shree is written in the center. This Vishwa Yantra represents the deity in temple. This Vishwa Yantra is decked up with ornaments and special attire in a way that the ensemble resembles Goddess Ma Ambe.
Unknown facts about Ambaji Temple
Other unknown facts about the temple and rituals followed are, in the morning, Balyaroop of Ma Ambe is worshipped with Bal Bhog as Prasad. In the afternoon at 12 PM, Yauvanroop is worshiped with Rajbhog Prasad in gold thal and in evening Praudhroop is worshiped with Sayanbhog.
Amabji Temple is the only temple in the world where every day the different vahan is used as savari of Ma Devi Ambe. Tiger on Sunday, Nandi on Monday, Lion on Tuesday, Aairavat on Wednesday, Garudjee on Thursday, Hans on Friday and Elephant of Saturday are used as Savari or Vahan or rider of Ma Devi Ambe. Four Bhattji families have been assigned to worship as Pujari in Ambaji Temple. Every year different family takes the charge as main Pujari in Temple from April to March.
Akhand Jyot – Holy lamp, is placed in Chanchar Chowk from many years and other Akhand Jyot is placed on Gabbar Hill in same line. Devotee can see both the Jyot in line in the evening from Chanchar Chowk or Gabbar.
Ambaji temple has undergone renovation in several phases; old structure has been replaced with carved marble under guidance of expert Sompura Community. The inner part of temple is remaining untouched and retain in original form.
Special Time to Visit Ambaji Temple
During the Navratri of Ashwin Month, the Garba is celebrated in Chanchar Chak in temple campus and devotee across Gujarat performed Garba through the night.Lots of Devotee came here for blessing of Ma Devi Ambe during Chaitra Navratri and Ashwini Navratri.
Special four day fair arranged on every year on the full moon night of Bhadrapad. Lots of devotee come here on feet across the nation, more than 800 Sanghas visit every year during this period and received blessing of Ma Ambe.
Thousand of devotee visited Amabji Temple every day and specially on full moon of Kartik, Chaitra, Asho and Bhadrapad. Along with worship, devotee can participate in Nav Chandi Yagya in the temple campus.
