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
and maidens are all very beautifully sculpted. The Avatāra of Visņu and his several incarnate aspects and incarnations enrich the step-well. . When we behold the beautiful sculptures of Vişņu that enshrine the various panels, quiet prominent and of large-size, we are surprised that the first two incarnations of matsya-the fish and kūrma, the tortoise find no place in the stepwell, though the Purāņas, like the Matsya and the Kūrma Purāņa are dedicated to them in ancient Indian literature. Besides this references are also found in Agni Purāna, Rūpamandana, Silparatna, Visnudharmottara Purāṇa and other important texts like Caturvarga Cintamani which says" मत्स्यरूपो जनार्दनः (१०.५.३२७). Visnu is in the form of a Fish, while Vişņu Dharmottara says:
4: $14615 genfu: (III. 24-28) We wonder whether these two amphibian avatāras are left out to swim in the cosmic water of the step-well.
The series of the avatāras of Visņu commences in the step-well with the Varāha or the Boar incarnation followed by other incarnations which are so beautifully sculpted in the panels of the Queen's step-well.
Varāha : is the porcine avatāra. It is an incarnation with a powerful Boar's head and human body. It is a large statue wherein Lord Visņu goes in the depth of the ocean to save goddess earth who had been carried away by the demon Hiranyākṣa. Lord Varāha lifts the earth and draws her out from the bottom of the ocean. Under the foot of the avatāra is a lotus leaf that grows in water. Just below it is an entwined snake-couple with human heads. Water snakes are natural residents of the water tanks or reservoirs. The right hand of the Lord Varāha rests near his body. His rear right hand holds a cakra or discus. The left fore arm holds a conch while the rear left arm has a mighty mace or gadā. On the arm holding the conch is seated the mother earth. Out of gratitude and affection she is stroking and fondling His snout. The statue of Varāha has been decked by beautiful ornaments round his neck, armlets around his arm and bracelets around his wrists. This statue is surrounded by a frame having 8 miniature carved panels. They embody several incarnations of Vişņu, Narasimha, Vāmana, Paraśurāma, Rāma, Buddha and Kalki. The other two panels are very indistinct and the ninth miniature on the top is the image of the divine in a yogic posture with lotuses in hand. Varaha is one of the oldest avatāras whose reference occurs in the Rgveda.
विश्वेत् ता विष्णुराभरदुरक्रमस्त्वेषितः । शतं महिषान् क्षीरपाकमोदनं वराहमिन्द्र एमुषम् ॥
(#9., VIII, 77.10)