Underground Shrine Queens Stepwell Patan

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

Page 25

Underground Shrine: Queen's step-well at Patan miniature figures of other incarnations of Vişņu, the Varaha, Nṛsimha and others. The image of Vamana in the Queen's step-well is very attractive and impressive as well. It is unscathed by ravages of weather and time.
Parasurama is the sixth avatara of Viṣņu. He is shown standing gracefully in a slightly bent posture. He has four hands holding an axe, a bow, an arrow and a citron fruit. This is in keeping with the citation of Agni Purana (45.5). This panel is surrounded by a frame of miniature sculptures four on either side and one at the top. The eight miniatures on the sides bear the several incarnations of Visņu. The ninth on the top has an important duty but due to erosion it cannot be recognised. It has four attendents two on either side one of whom carries an axe. The centre figure of Parasurama is chiselled with a firm disposition depicting a stern face, as he had eradicated the Kshatriya community of Haihaya dynasty twentyone times. Parasurama is an important avatara in the Rāmāyaṇa as he is enraged with Rama during his svayamvara for breaking the Bow of Śiva. But no sooner he recognises him as the avatara to follow, he renounces the world and returns for tapascarya. Parasurama was also the teacher of Bhisma, Drona and Karna, all of whom learnt the art of the use of weapons from him. His image is also described in Visņu Dharmottara (III.85-61) and Rupamandana (III.26). This is a beautiful sculpture of Queen's step-well. It is more or less intact barring a little erosion here and there. The character of the avatara is depicted with depth and profound understanding.
14
Rama is the seventh incarnation of Visņu and is worshipped throughout the country and abroad as the Supreme Godhead Para-Brahma. Thousands of temples in the country and in South Asia as well are dedicated to him wherein He is worshipped daily. In Queen's step-well also there is a remarkable sculpture of Rama. It is intact and has sufferred no erosion. Most of the sculpted images of Rama have two hands but in step-well, there is a superb conception in which he is depicted with four hands having bow and arrow in the front pair of hands and sword and shield in the rear pair of hands. This is keeping with the canonical text of Agni Puraṇa (49.6), however with a little difference, instead of shield he holds a conch.
रामश्चापि शरी खड्गी शंखी वा द्विभुजः स्मृतः । (अग्निपुराण, 49.696)
"Rāma holds bow and arrow and in the extra pair of hands wields sword and conch".
In Hayasirṣa Pañcaratra as cited by De Mallmenn, the weapons in the extra pair of hands are cakra-discus and sankha- conch (Kirit Mankodi). The frame is surrounded by eight miniature figures which have the incarnation of Visņu, Nrsimha,