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
in lalitasana pose. There is a panel depicting Siva's marriage or the Kalyana Sundaram pose as it is called in South India. These are combined images of Śiva. Śiva as Ardhanarisvara (Half man and half woman), Śiva as Visņu and Siva (Harihara), Śiva as Visņu, Śiva, Brahma and Surya (Hari Hara, Pitāmaha, Arka) and the Raudra or the frightening form of Śiva as Bhairava. Some of these important images are high-lighted among the several panels depicting Śiva and his consort.
Śiva in standing posture beams with innate delight on his face, granting benediction to all beings. He is Śiva as Mahadeva. Śiva has four hands holding a three hooded Cobra, in one hand and pitcher in the other. The third hand holds the varadamālā, the fourth hand is broken. It probably holds the trident or triśūla. The figure is highly ornamented. He wears a vyaghracarma-tiger-skin with a ornamented waist-band. He has put on armlets and jewelled braclets. The crown is of matted hair jata, a garland is shown dangling slightly below his knees. Two attendents are standing on either side of the image. The surrounding frame has four miniature sculptures on either side. There are three standing gods and one seated image on each side. There is a torana or decorated arch having images of several devotees. This is by and large well preserved panel having a forceful image of standing Śiva, very characteristic of his being a Mahadeva. There is also another standing image of Śiva as Isana one who controls and rules the entire cosmos.
Śiva with his consort Uma in a standing posture is a very edifying image. It is a pose of mutual feeling of warmth and love. Śiva is shown balancing one leg, so also is Uma. She looks on admiring his benign face. In one hand Śiva holds the trident in the second the varadamala, in the third the snake and the fourth hand he puts around the shoulder of his beloved. Uma in turn holds mirror which she shows to her beloved lord Śiva. Her second hand is from behind probably around Śiva's waist. Both are so absorbed in each other that their integral unity portrays the unity of Brahman and Māyā of Vedanta. Is not Uma herself the mirror or the creatrix in which she herself is the reflection of Śiva as the entire cosmos with endless creation!
Uma-Mahesvara sitting in lalitasana posture is a very impressive image. Umā is sitting on the lap of Siva. She is very graceful and her beaming face radiates expression of profound love and warmth. Śiva is depicted with four hands. In one hand he holds a trident triśula, in the second a three hooded snake, in the third a lotus symbolising non-attachment and also beauty and charm permeating its fragrance all around, the fourth hand is lovingly entwined around Uma's waist. The face of Uma has suffered slight erosion but the grace and beauty with which it is sculpted is quite natural and emotive. The jata, the crown of matted hair of Śiva is highly