Underground Shrine Queens Stepwell Patan

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

Page 26

15
Visņu: Avataras
Vamana, Parasurama, Rama, Balarama, Kalki etc. The pedestal reads: Rama is the great upholder of Dharma.
धर्मो हि परमो लोके धर्म सत्ये प्रतिष्ठितम् । (वाल्मी. रामा., अयो., 21-41 )
Rāma holds an all pervasive sway on Indian literature and arts. Hundreds of temples enshrine his divine images, and books are resplendent with his divine lores. The lores of Rama's life from Rāmāyaṇa are engraved on the running panels of Queen's step-well. While Valmiki Rāmāyaṇa is read by Sanskrit scholars, Tulasikṛta Rāmāyaṇa written in avadhi dialect is read and sung by masses at large.
Balarama is the eighth incarnation of Viṣņu. His standing image is slightly stooping, balancing his graceful posture on his left foot. This gives great poise and dignity to the image. He is standing on a pedestal of lotus-shape. He has four hands signifying that he is an incarnation of Viṣņu. In his hands he carries a bow, a pestle, a lotus and a citron for scattering seeds in the field. He is canopied by a three hooded serpent with a 'mani' or ruby on its central head. Balarama is associated with the snake, at times he is called' Seṣavatara' or anśavatara, the partial incarnation of the Ananta Naga or the Eternal Snake. In the panel he is shown with four attendents two of them are holding plough and the citron while the other two are worshipping him. The side frame has eight miniature sculptures with four on either side. They depict the eight avataras of Viṣņu in which one again is Balarama. The ninth image on the top shows god seated in yoga or meditation. This sculpture is well preserved and is in perfect condition. The image is beautifully adorned with all the ornaments such as crown, necklace, garland, earrings, armlets, bracelets, waistband, anklets etc. All these enhance the beauty of the image. Agni Purana (XL., 67), Viṣṇudharmottara Purana (III, 85.72b-73a) and Rupamaṇḍana (III., 27) ascribe Him to Caturvyuha of Kṛṣṇa, states Balarama as representing his Sankarṣaṇa aspect or the annihilator aspect. The famous Kṛṣṇa bhakta Jayadeva in his Dasavatāra Stotra describes Balarama as the eighth avatara of Viṣņu. But Matsya Purāṇa considers Kṛṣṇa as the 8th avatara instead of Balarama :
मत्स्यः कूर्मो वराहश्च नरसिंहोऽथ वामनः ।
रामो रामश्च कृष्णश्च बुद्धः कल्कीति च क्रमात् ॥ ( मत्स्य पु. 285.6)
Buddha's image is well preserved with no erosion whatsoever. Buddha is depicted with a slim body in a standing posture with a slightly graceful bend. This is so befitting, an austere ascetic. He has a short-loin cloth or kaupin as put on by samyasins and a cloth slung around his shoulders. In order to establish him