Underground Shrine Queens Stepwell Patan

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

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Underground Shrine : Queen's step-well at Patan
sculpted. The whole image has the grandeur and dignity behoving the supreme Goddess, the consort of Vişņu. She is the ever active kinetic principle of the creative faculty or Māyā of Visnu. In Visnu Purāņa she has been described as the great earth Bhūdevi. We all are her children. Her benevolent emotions are well-brought in this image enshrined in Queen's step-well.
Visnu mounting on Garuda is a very popular theme in Indian iconography. This is also represented in the step-well. It is an attractive image wherein Visnu is depicted with 16 hands but many hands are broken. The few that remain intact are weilding mace, sword, a shield and one hand is giving blessings varada. The left hand has an open palm. This is built in consonance with the ancient texts. The 16 hands of Vişņu are also suggested in the Rūpamaņdana. This form of Vişņu is also called Trilokamohana which is described as having four faces. The image in the step-well has only one face. The image of Trailokya Mohana with four faces and
ds was found in Sander and is well preserved in Price of Wales Museum, Bombay.