Underground Shrine Queens Stepwell Patan

Author(s): Jaikishandas Sadani
Publisher: B J Institute of Learning & Research

Page 14

Underground Shrine
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with another, in the step-well. There are butteresses; carved pillars, pavilions, sculpted panels bearing sculptures on the walls of the well. All these highten the beauty of each storey.
During the reign of King Bhimadeva I, his beloved Queen Udayamati envisioned building a step-well. Merutungācārya in his book "Prabandha Cintamani" written in 14th century tells us :
श्रीउदयमतिनाम्न्या तद्राग्या (नरवाहनखंगारसुतया) श्रीपत्तने सहस्रलिंगसरोवरादप्यतिशायिनी नव्या 914 alfar l (3/81, pg. 54)
"Queen Udayamati, the daughter of Naravāhana Khangāra, built this novel step-well at Patan or Sripattana, which surpasses the glory of the Sahasralinga Sarovara” This Sarovara or Lake was built by Queen Udayamati's as grandson Jayasimha Siddharāja during his rule (1093-1143 A.D.). It is one of the largest tanks with a thousand Siva shrines at Patan. .: Kirit Mankodi tells us that this step-well was built by Queen Udayamati as a memorial for perpetuating the memory of her husband King Bhimadeva. But Prof. Hariprasad Shastri does not hold this view. Basing his view on the aforesaid quotation from "Prabandha Cintamani”, he says, 'since Rajñi Udayamati built the step-well' it could only be during the reign of king Bhimdeva. Had it been a memorial, the writer Merutungācārya would have written Rājamātā Udayamati and not his queen (Rājñi) Udayamati. From this we surmise that this step-well was built during the reign of King Bhimadeva by the enlighted Queen.
The step-well built (in 1068 A.D.) under the auspicies of Queen Udayamati was known as "Rāņi-ni-vāva”. It was built at Patan 135 kilometres from Ahmedabad. It is a magnificent creation by the master artists of those days. This monument amply expresses the love of art and culture of the Caulukya Dynasty along with their benevolent and efficient rule, which single them out from other rulers.
"Rāņi ki Vāpi' is, therefore, a very fitting creation of immortal cultural values. This reservoir is 65 metres long, 20 metres broad and 25 metres deep. It is the largest monument of its kind. More than 800 panels having large sculptures were planned to decorate the walls of this seven-stories deep step-well. This, 'Udayamati's step-well remained buried under sand for centuries. But it was discovered in 1946
th storey became visible. The archaeological Survey of India, thereafter, took up the task of desilting the step-well and conservating it wherever necessary. Their efforts resulted in discovering this unique artistic creation of medieval India. The Queen's step-well is seven storeys deep, the like of which is hardly found