West India · Gujarat
Ambaji, Gujarat
Sources: open-meteo, wikimedia
Before you go
One of the major Shakti Peethas; the Bhadarvi Poonam fair (September) is the peak. Mount Abu is ~45 km.
About Ambaji
- Hills
Where it is
Ambaji is a temple town in Banaskantha district of north Gujarat, set among the Aravalli hills close to the Rajasthan border, about 45 km from Mount Abu.
History
Worship of the goddess Amba at Arasur, in the Aravallis, goes back at least to the 14th century, and her temple is revered as one of the Shakti Peethas. Gabbar hill nearby is honoured as the goddess's original seat, and the medieval marble Jain temples of Kumbhariya stand a short distance away.
People
Ambaji's people speak Gujarati, and Rajasthani dialects are heard across the nearby border. The town lives largely from the temple; for the Bhadarvi Poonam fair pilgrims walk in from across Gujarat, and Navratri brings nights of garba.
Known for
- The Arasuri Ambaji Temple
- Gabbar hill, the goddess's original seat
- The Bhadarvi Poonam fair
- The marble Jain temples of Kumbhariya
- Navratri garba
Did you know?
The temple has no image of the goddess; she is represented by a sacred yantra kept veiled from view, and priests dress the shrine so that devotees see her form.
Shrines and sites
- Arasuri Ambaji Temple
- Gabbar Hill
- Kumbhariya Jain temples
Traditions
- Hindu
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