Prasanna Shree Akhanda Jyotiswaroop Ambaji Temple Ambapur, uka Gandhinagar, rict Gandhinagar

This temple in the historic village of Ambapur houses a continuously burning flame of Ambaji Mata, a manifestation of the goddess from Arasur, which is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas in India. It is believed that the goddess took residence here to bless a devout follower who, due to old age, could no longer travel to the temple atop Mount Arasur to perform the jalabhishek (ritual water offering). One unique feature here is that the goddess is believed to ride a different vahana (mount/vehicle) on each day of the week. This temple is revered by countless devotees across Gujarat. In the courtyard of the temple stands an ancient 15th-century stepwell. This famous ‘Ambapur ni Vav’ has also brought the temple onto the national tourism map.

According to local history, the village was once known as Bauddhisthal, which gradually morphed into Budthal. In the early 20th century, the installation of Ambaji Mata’s eternal flame led to the village being renamed as Ambapur. The legend says that Lalluram Maharaj, a devout follower of the goddess from Mehmedabad in Kheda district, vowed in 1916 to offer jalabhishek at the Arasur Ambaji temple on every full moon day. Arasur’s Ambaji is the kuldevi (family deity) of many in Gujarat. Even Maharana Pratap Singh of Mewar was a devotee and it is believed that he offered his sword at the temple after being saved from a crisis.

On his pilgrimage, Lalluram Maharaj would rest near the Ambapur stepwell and bathe with its water before continuing. He kept this vow uninterrupted for 143 full moons. However, on the 144th full moon, he reached near the temple but couldn’t proceed due to age-related ailments. He prayed from afar and it is believed that the goddess, pleased with his devotion, appeared in the form of a tribal woman and helped him reach the temple.

There, he confessed that he might not be able to visit anymore. The goddess then offered to accompany him in the form of an eternal flame. That night, the goddess appeared in a dream to a respected person in Budthal, instructing him to build a temple there for the flame Lalluram Maharaj would bring.

When Lalluram Maharaj reached Budthal the next day with the flame, the villagers warmly welcomed him and confirmed the vision. On Vaishakh Shukla Panchami in 1930, the flame was ceremoniously installed. A small temple was built near the stepwell. After renovations, the temple gained its present form.

The temple, located a few feet above the village road, features a grand triple-arched entrance gate. Two lion sculptures and a trident (trishul) adorn the top. The temple has eight steps, with a small shrine of Brahmani Mata on a platform to the left.

The temple includes a large open mandapa and sanctum (garbhagriha). The sanctum has a urushringa-style spire and the mandapa is topped with a domed shikhara. Inside the mandapa, on a raised platform, is the lion mount of the goddess. Flanking the sanctum entrance are small shrines of Bhairav and Shiv Shankar. In the vestibule (antaral), there are idols of Ganesha and Hanuman.

Within the sanctum, seated in a gold-plated, intricately carved shrine, is a marble idol of Ambaji Mata in child form. Lions flank either side of the shrine and an eternal flame burns beside the left pillar. The backdrop of the idol is silver-plated with a golden overlay.

This goddess is believed to ride different mounts on different days of the week. On Sunday and Monday, her mounts are the lion and Nandi (bull), respectively. On Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, she rides a tiger, swan, Garuda, and Airavat (divine elephant), respectively. On Saturday, she once again rides the swan.

Villagers believe that the goddess brings peace, prosperity and protection to the area. Regular worship is performed and on Vaishakh Vad Panchami, Navchandi Yajna and other rituals are performed. On Sharad Purnima (Kojagiri Purnima), a divine assembly (darbar) is hosted, followed by Garba on the next day. During Navratri, nine days of religious events are celebrated.

One tale recounts that a village cowherd used to bring his cattle to bathe in the pond behind the temple. One day, the cows refused to come out of the water. After trying everything, the worried owner vowed to host Garba during Navratri and soon after, the cows emerged. Since then, Garba has become an integral part of temple festivities.

Behind the temple is the shrine of Varahi Mata and in front, across the road, stands the Ramapir Temple.

The Ambapur Stepwell
Adjacent to the temple lies the famous Ambapur Stepwell, a fine example of ancient water management and traditional architecture. Though it lacks inscriptions that could date it precisely, the Archaeological Survey of India estimates it was built in the 15th century. Nearby in Adalaj is the better-known Rudabai Stepwell, built in 1498 by Queen Rudabai, wife of King Ranveer Singh. While Ambapur’s stepwell is less ornate, architectural similarities suggest Rudabai might have built it too.

Sacred History & Spiritual Significance

This sacred temple stands as a testament to deep spiritual devotion, ancient architectural grandeur, and rich local cultural traditions.

Temple Sanctum & Architecture

The sanctum sanctorum houses the divine idol consecrated according to ancient Vedic traditions, surrounded by serene courtyards and traditional temple architecture.

Sacred Darshan Gallery