Underground Shrine Queens Stepwell Patan

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

Page 32

Siva
21
Svetasvatara Upanisad has described him as the Supreme God and the lord of this entire creation; while creation is Māyā or His nature. Māyā is thus his creative energy which manifests itself as the great cosmos.
मायां तुं प्रकृतिं विद्यात् मायिनं तु महेश्वरम् ।
तस्यावयवभूतैः तु व्याप्तं सर्वमिदं जगत् ॥ (a. 34., 4.10) In Kausitaki Upanişad, Rudra becomes Mahādeva, Maheśvara and Iśāna. The unity of these four aspects of Siva becomes the base for all the later literature and reflections in the Purāņic lores to follow. They become the source from which Indian sculptures have drawn their inspiration and have given us the most remarkable images full of aesthetic expression and philosophic content. In the plastic or visual art it permeates spiritual well being for entire posterity. Most magnificent sculptures of Lord Siva in their varying moods and poses are enshrined in the Queen's stepwell. An over all view of the sculptures in the several panels will acquaint us with the grandeur of this priceless heritage of Art. The canonical treatises of Silpa Vidhāna or iconography have laid down several rules in depicting the various aspects of Siva.
Siva is thus the all pervading Brahman. The all canopying semi circular shape of the sky is his head, its dark blue colour is his hair, the beautiful jewel-like glowing moon shines in this vast vacant infinite blue is indeed his lustrous crown. or kirita. It is also the intensified soma rasa or the nectar of Bliss : ānandāmsta. It is precisely for this that Siva is also called a "Vyomakeśī" (With sky as hair) and Candrasekhara (moon as crown). He is the supreme knowledge. His three eyes are the three Vedas. "THIH aga me " I bow to Him having three eyes as Vedas. The Sun, Moon and Fire (Sürya, Candra and Agni) are also described as his three eyes. Another analogy signifying His three eyes are indited as Icchā, Jñana and Kriyā or desire, knowledge and action : 5551-# FEHT FHAIRY" | The three eyes are indeed the ocean of supreme wisdom. The trident or trishüla in Siva's hand also has been referred to at times as desire, knowledge and action..
The several aspects of Śiva along with his beloved consort are magnificently sculpted on the panels of Queen's step-well that we are amazed to behold the grandeur and beauty of such evocative icons. Suddenly we find ourselves transported to the land of the gods permeating spiritual fevour all around. We bow down to divine Siva in supplication with heart felt devotion as we behold Siva revealing so many of his divine manifestations in these marvellous sculptures.
Siva is shown in His standing posture, with his beloved Umā and also sitting