WELCOME

TO MY
PRESENTATION
Topic Name

Goddess Of Ambika &

Chakreshwari
 • Supervised By • Presented By
Dr. Mokammal H Bhuiyan Name – Sheikh Limon Mahmud
Professor, Department Of Archaeology Department – Archaeology
Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka Batch – 49
Roll - 1146
 Goddess Of Ambika
Ambikā is one of the most popular Jain
goddesses among Digambaras. She is the
female attendant deity, Lord Nemi, but has
long been a figure of worship in her own
right. As a ‘deity of the teaching’ – she is
believed to help protect and spread the
message of her jinas.
As a goddess, ambikā is a soul subject to the cycle of birth and can
intervene in human affairs, who are liberated, perfect souls,
completely detached from everyday human experience. Lay jains
worship gods partly to request help with worldly matters, ranging
from issues of health and fertility, and passing examinations to
business success. By the tenth century several of the śāsana-devatās
had developed into independent gods at the centre of their own
cults. This may be because of their connections with the major
jinas, links with a prominent pilgrimage centre or various stories of
their powers.
Legend

According to jain text, ambika is said to have been an ordinary

woman named agnila who became a goddess. She lived in the city
of girinagar with her husband, soma as per śhvētāmbara tradition
and somasarman as per digambara tradition and her two children,
siddha and budda as per śhvētāmbara tradition and shubhanakar and
prabhankara as per digambara tradition.
Iconography
According to the tradition, her colour is golden and her vehicle is
a 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. In south india, ambika is shown to
have dark blue complexion. Ambika is depicted as sashandevi for
other tirthankars as well. Ambika is often represent with bahubali.
Yaksha-yakshi pair sculptures of ambika and sarvahanabhuti are
one of the most favoured along with gomukha-chakreshwari and
dharanendra-padmavati.
Significance of Jainism
 Ambika Devi is often invoked for protection and guidance on the spiritual path

 She is seen as a compassionate mother who helps devotees overcome obstacles and challenges

 Jain sculptures describe her as a source of strength for those seeking liberation

Worship and Devotion

 Devotees offer prayers ,incense, flowers and fruits to Ambika devi
 Special festivals like Ambika Jayanti celebrate her divine presence
 Temples dedicated to her places of worship and meditation for Jain followers
 Spiritual teachings
 Ambika devi’s significance goes beyond her iconography
 She represents qualities that jains aspire to cultivate, such as compassion,wisdom, and self discipline

 Her teachings emphasize the importantance of inner strength and inner purity

Relevance today
 Ambika devi’s teachings remain relevant in modern times

 Her message of compassion and non-violence is in line with contemporary ethical valus
 People continue to seek her blessings for guidance and strength
 Chakreshwari
In Jain cosmology, Chakeshvari is the guardian
goddess or Yakshini (attendant deity) of Rishabhanatha.
She is the tutelary deity of the Sarawagi Jain community.
 Iconography
• The central figure in this elaborate altarpiece is a four armed goddess seated in
padmasana on a lotous. Her lower right hand holds a lemon and the corresponding left
hand is raised in the gesture of fearlessness.Each of the two upper hands holds a
wheel.This is the distinctive attribute of the goddess Chakresvari,
• The protective yakshi of the first jina, Rishabhanatha.
Although not as universally venerated as Ambika, Chakresvari is
an important figures, who appears to have enjoyed a cult of her
own.In this bronze she is certainly not a mere attendant of
Rishabhanatha, but a goddess in her own right with her own
attendants.
MYTHOLOGY OF CHAKRESHWARI