Ambika (Jainism)

Ambika
An image of Ambika in Cave 34 of the Ellora Caves

In Jainism, Ambika (Sanskrit: अम्बिका, Odia: ଅମ୍ବିକା Ambikā "Mother") or Ambika Devi (अम्बिका देवी Ambikā Devī "the Goddess-Mother") is the Yakṣi "dedicated attendant deity" or Śāsana Devī "protector goddess" of the 22nd Tirthankara, Neminatha. She is also known as Ambai, Amba, Kushmandini and Amra Kushmandini.

A sculpture of Ambika was discovered at Karajagi village in Haveri taluk. The sculpture has a two-line Sanskrit inscription in Nagari script about the date of its installation - “Ambikadevi, Shaka 1173, Virodhikrit. Samvatsara, Vaishakha Shuddha 5, Guruvara.” This corresponds to Thursday, April 27, 1251 AD.

According to the tradition, her colour is golden and her vehicle is lion. She has four arms. In her two right hands she carries a mango and in the other a branch of a mango tree. In one of her left hands, she carries a rein and in the other she has her two sons, Priyankara and Shubhankara.

The major temples of Shri Ambika Devi include:

Image depicting Goddess Ambika from Karnataka, India, c. 900 CE, Norton Simon Museum

Image depiciting Goddess Ambika in Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 6th-7th century

Carving of Ambikadevi Kalugumalai Jain Beds, 8th century

Goddess Ambika in Royal Ontario Museum, 8th-9th century

Goddess Ambika, 10th Century, National Museum, New Delhi

Sculpture of Goddess Ambika, 1034 AD, British Museum

Goddess Ambika in Museum Rietberg, 11th century

Goddess Ambika idol from Orissa carved during 1150-1200 AD

Sculpture of Gomedh and Ambika at Maharaja Chhatrasal Museum, 11th century