The town of Unjha, deeply entwined with ancient culture and history, is home to the exquisite temples of Unjheshwar Mahadev and Ambaji Mata. Lord Unjheshwar Mahadev is revered as the patron deity of Unjha. According to mythological scriptures, Mother Amba is an incarnation of Uma-Parvati. This goddess is immensely popular as Ambaji across Gujarat and Rajasthan. Her primary abode is situated atop Mount Gabbar in Gujarat and a sacred idol of the same deity resides within this temple. It serves as a sanctuary of faith for countless devotees from Unjha and the surrounding regions. A unique feature of this hallowed site is the preservation of the memory of brave soldiers who fought to protect India, honoured here in the form of statues.
According to the seventh khanda of the ‘Devi Mahatmya’ in the ‘Markandeya Purana’, the demons Shumbha and Nishumbha conquered the kingdom of the three worlds from Lord Indra. In response, the gods beseeched the primordial power, Goddess Bhagwati, for protection. Whilst she was listening to their prayers, Goddess Parvati arrived and from her physical form, Goddess Amba emerged. Shumbha and Nishumbha sent their servants, Chanda and Munda, to capture Ambika. It was then that Kali, manifesting from Mother Amba’s body, vanquished the demons. Since Kali destroyed Chanda and Munda, Goddess Bhagwati bestowed upon her the name Chamunda. The goddess is worshipped in various forms, including Ambika and Chamunda. The shrine of Ambaji Mata on Mount Gabbar in the Banaskantha district is considered one of the fifty-one Shakti Peethas. Mentioned in the text ‘Tantra Chudamani’, 
the goddess is also known here as ‘Arasuri Ambaji Mata’. Adjacent to this shrine of Uma-Parvati stands the Unjheshwar Mahadev Temple, established under the inspiration of Swami Sachchidanandji Paramhansa.
Known in antiquity as Umapur, Unjha has a history spanning approximately 1,870 years. According to records in the Mehsana District Gazetteer, Maharaja Vrajpalji of Malwa is said to have founded Unjha in 156 AD. Another legend suggests that Vrajpal Singh was the King of Madhavati, a city on the present-day border of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. After being defeated by King Chandrasen of Mahet, he arrived in the Unjha region of Gujarat. Here, in 155 AD, he performed a grand ‘yagna’ and subsequently established the temple of Umiya Mata in 156 AD. 
Umiya Mata is the tutelary deity of the Kadva Patidar community. The history of Unjha is also linked to the Chalukya Emperor Siddharaj Jaysinh (1094 to 1143 AD). The Gazetteer notes that Siddharaj Jaysinh resided in Unjha for a period whilst returning from his campaign in Malwa. His mother, Minaldevi, had sought refuge at the village head’s residence, Himala’s, prior to her marriage. During the twelfth century, in the era of Siddharaj, Unjha was a prosperous village in Gujarat. In modern times, the town is renowned for the production of Ayurvedic medicines, particularly Psyllium Husk (Isabgol).
A magnificent and beautiful gateway is set into the fortifications surrounding the temple on the outskirts of the town. Atop this entrance stands a tall clock tower. A circular clock is fixed to the uppermost section of the tower, crowned by a small dome. 
The middle section of the tower features intricate latticework. This arched gateway leads into the temple courtyard. A concrete path stretches from the entrance to the main shrine, flanked by trees that lend a tranquil, picturesque atmosphere. This spacious outer court leads to a paved courtyard in front of the temple, where numerous benches are provided for devotees’ comfort.
Situated upon a raised plinth (Jagati) are the two adjacent temples of Unjheshwar Mahadev and Ambaji Mata. Beside the steps leading to the plinth, there is a small shrine housing the idol of Gurudev Swami Muktanandji. From here, one ascends seven steps to enter the ‘Mukhamandapa’ (entrance porch). Both temples follow a traditional layout comprising a porch, a ‘Sabhamandapa’ (assembly hall), an ‘Antarala’ (vestibule) and a ‘Garbhagriha’ (sanctum sanctorum).
The entrance porches and assembly halls are semi-open, with carved pillars connected by graceful cusped arches. At the centre of the Unjheshwar Mahadev assembly hall, a white marble Nandi and a turtle are placed upon a pedestal.
The uniqueness of this temple lies in the rare convergence of devotion and patriotism displayed upon the pillars of the assembly hall. Each pillar is adorned with the statues of the brave sons of the Indian Army who displayed incomparable valour and made the ultimate sacrifice for the nation. These include Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, Naib Subedar Bana Singh, Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat and Lance Naik Karam Singh. Furthermore, statues of Major Somnath Sharma, the first recipient of the Param Vir Chakra in independent India, Kargil war hero Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav, Major Hoshiar Singh Dahiya, Colonel Ardeshir Tarapore and Captain Gurbachan Singh Salaria are also present. The ornate doorframes of the sanctum feature carved ‘Dvarapalas’ (gatekeepers) at the base. Within the sanctum, a Shiva Lingam is positioned centrally on the floor, with a beautiful idol of Mother Parvati placed in a niche on the rear wall.
In the assembly hall of the Ambaji Mata temple, a brass lion, the goddess’s vehicle, stands at the centre. The design of the sanctum’s doorframe mirrors that of the Unjheshwar Mahadev temple. Inside the sanctum, an idol of Mother Amba, mounted upon a lion, resides within an intricately carved metallic ‘makhar’ (ornate frame). The eight-armed goddess holds various weapons, a conch and a lotus, with one hand held in the ‘Abhaya Mudra’ (gesture of blessing). Exquisite carvings adorn the back of the idol. Both temples feature square, tapering spires over the porches and assembly halls, whilst the sanctums are crowned with ‘Urushringa’ style spires.
Ritual prayers (Aarti) are performed daily at 5:00 am in both the Ambaji Mata and Unjheshwar Mahadev temples. Evening prayers are held at 5:00 pm at the Ambaji Mata temple and at 5:15 pm at the Unjheshwar Mahadev temple. Festivals such as Sharadiya Navratri and Mahashivratri, along with other religious occasions, are celebrated with great fervour. The temple sees a significant influx of devotees on Mondays and Tuesdays. Various religious programmes, including discourses, are held in the Sadguru Muktanandji Satsang Hall within the premises. An orphanage and old age home are also managed here by the ‘Sachchidanand Sanskar Dham’ (Sachchidanand Seva Samaj Trust), which operates under the mottos ‘Bravery is the Supreme Duty’ and ‘Service is the Supreme Duty’.
