Ambaji Shakti Peetha, or Ambaji Temple, is one of the major strengths of the Hindus. The temple is on Mount Arasuri in the Indian state of Gujarat. The Ambaji Temple timings are from 07:00 AM to 09:15 PM.
It is about 65 km from Palanpur, 45 km from Mount Abu, 20 km from Abu Road, 185 km from Ahmedabad, and 50 km from Kadidra near the Gujarat and Rajasthan borders.
Ambaji Temple
Contents
The Ambaji Shakti Peetha is the ‘Arasuri Ambaji Temple’. It is famous for its historical and mythological connections with cultural heritage sites. The main component of the Ambaji Temple is that no idol was installed in the temple.
‘Sri Yantram’ is worshipped in this temple. This machine was worshipped as the temple’s main deity. And no one could see the machine with the naked eye. In front of the machine is lit an intact cauldron.
History and Significance
The Ambaji Temple is on Arasuri Hill in Ambaji, Gujarat, near the Gujarat-Rajasthan border. It is Also known as Arasuri Ambe. This holy shrine is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas and has been the centre of Shakti worship for centuries.
There are 12 major Shakti Peetha Tirthas—important pilgrimage sites for Shakti worship, namely Maa Bhagwati Mahakali Maha Shakti in Ujjain. Maa Kamakshi in Kanchipuram. Mata Bramaramba in Srisailam, Sri Kumarika in Kanyakumari.
Mataji Ambaji and Mata Mahalakshmidevi in Gujarat. Devi Lalita in Kolhapur, Prayag. Vindhya Vasini in Vindhya. Vishalakshi in Varanasi. Mangalavati in Gaya and Sundari in Bangal & Guhyeshwari Temple in Nepal.
Purana:
Ambaji Temple is the main shrine of the deity worshipped since Vedic times. According to the Markandeya Purana, Sati, the daughter of King Daksh Prajapati, was a great devotee of Lord Shiva and performed intense penance to please Lord Shiva. Finally, Lord Shiva agreed to her marriage. But Daksha Raju was not happy with this marriage.
To insult Shiva, Dakshuda performed Yagya and invited all the gods and famous people except Sati and Shiva. Sati decided to confront her father in Yagya. Lord Shiva tried to stop her from doing this, but Sati went to Yaga.
King Daksh did not welcome her and did not use this occasion to insult her and Shiva in front of God and all the famous people. Sati Devi could not bear this humiliation and jumped into Yagya’s sacred pit.
Once Lord Shiva got this information, He was in severe pain and anger over the South. Lord Shiva created Veerabhadra and Bhadrakali with additional general superpowers and commanded them to kill Daksh and his army.
Then Lord Shiva picked up Sati with her fiery body and expressed his anger in the form of the epic Tandava, the dance form of destruction.
Other gods and people were concerned about the safety of the entire universe and requested Lord Vishnu to help in this situation. Vishnu used the Sudarshan Chakra and mutilated the body of our Goddess Sati.
According to legend, the heart of Goddess Sati fell at the spot where the Ambaji temple was located. Thus, the temple is one of the main Shaki Peetha and Siddha Peetha of the 51 Shakti Peethas.
Architecture
The Most Sacred Ambaji Temple is a sacred precinct built of marble. The temple was originally built by the Naga Brahmins and contained a scripture from the worshipped Vedas. The white marble of the temple also has cones decorated with gold.
Without a small gate and other doors, the Arasuri Ambaji Temple enters through the silver door that protects the sanctum sanctorum. The temple has impressive architectural niches and an open square space for Chachar Chowk, rituals, or other religious ceremonies.
Vishwa Yantra Pooja
Another important feature of this temple is that there is no idol or photo of our Goddess Ambe, but there is a yantra. On the wall is the Gokh cave, on which the gold-plated marble inscription of the triangular cosmic machine is fixed.
It is a copper plate engraved with figures with Vedic text on the sacred geometry, with the word Sri written in the centre.
This cosmic machine represents the deity in the temple. This cosmic machine was adorned with ornaments and special attire, and the ensemble resembles our Ambe Devi.
Unknown facts
Other unknown facts about the temple and its rituals are that the childish form of our Ambe worshipped with Bal Bhog in the morning.
At noon, the youth form had worshipped with Rajabhog Prasad in gold. In the evening, It worshipped the adult form with Sayambhog.
The only temple in the world is the Amabji Temple, where a different vehicle is used to ride our Goddess Ambe daily.
Tiger on Sunday, Nandi on Monday, Lion on Tuesday, Iravatham on Wednesday, Garudji on Thursday, Hans on Friday and Elephant on Saturday were used as riding or vehicles or Maa Devi Ambe riders.
They appointed four Bhatji families to worship as priests at the Ambaji Temple. Every year, from April to March, different families take charge of the high priest in the temple.
Akhanda Jyot: The sacred lamp was in Chanchar Chowk for many years, and the other Akhanda Jyoti is in the same row on Gabbar Hill. The devotee can see the Jyot from Chanchar Chowk or Gabbar in the evening line.
The Ambaji Temple underwent several stages of reconstruction; it replaced the old structure with carved marble under the guidance of an expert Sompura community. The temple’s interior remains untouched and in its original form.
The best time to visit
On Ashwini month Navratri, Garba is celebrated at Chanchar Chakra on the temple premises, and devotees from Gujarat perform Garba at night. Many devotees come here for the blessings of our Goddess Ambe during Chaitra Navratri and Ashwini Navratri.
Every year, a special four-day fair was organised on the (pournami) full moon day of Bhadrapada. Many devotees from all over the country come here on foot. During this period, more than 800 communities visited annually and were blessed by our Ambe.
Thousands of devotees visit the Amabji Temple daily, especially on the full moon days of Karthika, Chaitra, Asho and Bhadrapada. In addition to worship, devotees can participate in the Nava Chandi Yagya on the temple premises.
Ambaji Temple Timings
Below are the Ambaji temple timings for Dashan.
| TYPE | Ambaji Temple Timings |
| Mangala Aarti | 7 to 7.30 AM |
| General | 7:30 to 10:45 AM |
| Rajbhog Aarti | 12:30 to 1:00 PM |
| General | 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM |
| Sayan Aarti | 7 to 7:30 PM |
| General | 7:30 to 9:15 PM |
Aarti Timing
Mataji’s Aarti is held regularly every day at 6:00 AM. Sunrise & Sunset times vary according to the season, so Aarti times vary accordingly.
Madhyan Aarti:-
- 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM
Rajbhog Aarti
- 12:00 PM
Sandhya Aarti
- 7:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Nearby Attractions
There are a few places to visit near the Arasuri Ambaji Mata Temple:
Manava Sarovar: Just a minute from the Ambaji Mata Temple.
Kailash Hill Sunset Point and Kailash Hotel: 1 to 1.5 km, 5 minutes drive or 15 minutes walk along Danta Road
Kumbharia: 1.5 to 3.5 km, 8 minutes drive or 20 minutes walk.
Gabbar Hill: 3.5 to 4 km, requires about 10 minutes drive or 50 minutes walk.
Kamakshi Temple in Chikla: 3.5 km, 7 minutes drive or 40 minutes walk. Koteshwar Mahadev Temple: 5.5 km, 10 minutes drive.
How to Reach?
By Air:
The nearest airport is SVP Ahmedabad.
By Road:
Ambaji is located in Danta Taluka of Banaskantha district near the Gujarat-Rajasthan border. The walk from the bus station to the temple is less than a kilometre, just below the roof walkway.
Direct buses are available from many places. Including Mount Abu 45 km. Palanpur 65 km. Ahmedabad is 195 km, and Idar is 115 km.
By Train:
Palanpur, 65 km, is the nearest railway station to New Delhi.
Address and Contact
Arasuri Ambaji Temple,
Khodiyar Chowk, Ambaji, Gujarat 385110
Click here for the official Website of the temple.
Email Id: info@ambajitemple.in