Underground Shrine Queens Stepwell Patan

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

Page 29

4. BRAHMA
Brahmā is the creator in the Trinity of the Indian pantheon of God : Visņu, Brahmā and Mahesa. In the Veda Brahmā is known as Dhātā and Vidhatā. Chāndogya Upanisad tells us Brahmā imparted knowledge to Prajāpati and he gave it to Manu. Manu bestowed it to his eldest son Aruņānandana Uddālaka.
Matsya Purāna and Mahabhārata describe Brahmā as a creator. When Visņu was in deep meditation desire for creation flashed into his mind. Instantly from his naval sprang up a stalk on which bloomed a fully blossomed Lotus on which was seated Brahmā. From him has emerged the entire creation. (Mah. Sā., 335.18). Thus the naval of Visņu is the source of the creator Brahmā and Brahmā is the source of entire creation. Brahmā has four faces which look into all the directions simultaneously. The four faces are the source of entire Vedic and literary knowledge. The Eastern face revealed the Rgveda, the Western Sāmaveda, the Northern Atharvaveda and the Southern face revealed the Yajurveda. Besides Vedas each of the faces reveals the different aspects of various literary diciplines. Moreover, from every part of his body emerged the various living beings and the entire creation as well. Rather he himself has become the infinite creation.
Matsya Purāņa tells us that Brahmā is the first creator of "Vāstu Šāstra”. It is an important treatise on the art of Architecture (Matsya Purāņa, 252-2). The images of Brahmā and his consort are very well presented in the sculptures enshrined in the Queen's step-well.
Brahmā is generally described as a robust figure with four faces having beard and moustache. But in the step-well his figure is presented with a little innovation and change. In one of the images the central face is shown without beard, while in another impressive image of Brahmā the central face has long cute beard and twisted moustaches. The other three faces do not have beard or moustache. A sun like halo surrounds his face revealing his divinity. He has four hands holding varadamālā, ladle, book and pitcher.
In another image he is shown sitting in a Lalitāsana pose. Brahmāņi, his consort, is sitting on his lap. He has four hands holding a lotus, ladle and a book. The fourth