Ambika

This sculpture is of the voluptuous Jain goddess Ambika, who is worshipped on behalf of mothers and infants. Here, she is shown seated on a double lotus pedestal throne beneath a mango tree. She protectively holds an infant with her left hand, whilst a second child stands on the lower freize reaching up to her.

In her right hand, Ambika holds a mango branch.The mango is symbolically associated with rounded female forms, especially breasts. This association is underscored by the similarity between the Sanskrit and Hindi words for mango (amra and amb, amba) and mother (amba and amma).

Ambika's vahana or vehicle is the lion, which is seen seated beneath the lotus pedestal throne. It is accompanied by the figures of two kneeling worshippers, who may be the donors who commissioned this sculpture.