Historical Period11c CE
11th c. CE; major expansion 14th c.
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Deities
Ambājī of Arāsur
Ambājī — the supreme Gujarati Mother
Ambājī — the supreme Gujarati Mother
Ambājī Mātā of Arāsur is one of the 51 Shakti Pīṭhas (where Sati's heart fell). The shrine has NO idol — only a Viśā Yantra (sacred diagram) of the goddess. Pilgrims (over 4 million annually) converge, especially on Bhādra-Pūrṇimā (September full moon) when 10 lakhs arrive for the 5-day fair. The goddess is considered supreme among Gujarat's Mātas. Temple at 480m above sea level with 999 steps to the Gabbar Hill shrine where a real flame (Akhaṇḍa Jyoti) has burned continuously since 14th c. CE.
Daily aarati at dawn and dusk; abhisheka with water/milk/turmeric; kumkum offering; red hibiscus; oil lamp. For Tantric or non-Brahmin shrines: goat-sacrifice (traditional; increasingly symbolic pumpkin-breaking).
Hinduism's goddess-traditions are vast and diverse — 51 Shakti Pīṭhas, 10 Mahāvidyās, 9 Navadurga, 8 Ashta Matrika, hundreds of regional forms. Each is a distinct face of the one supreme Mahā-Devī.
