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 holding a cakra- discus and a lotus. Several Hari-Hara images are found in Gujarat and South India. They are sculpted mostly in the eighth and twelfth century A.D.
In Queen's step-well the image of Hari-Hara has four hands. One hand of Śiva is giving benediction while other is broken. The two hands of Visņu; one holds a mace while the other is broken. On the head of Śiva on the right is the crown of matted hair jaṭā and the left is the kirita a tall crown of Viṣņu. The attendent on Siva's side carries a triśula and on Visņu's side in the left carries the conch. The panel frame surrounding this image, on the left has various incarnations of Viṣņu. While on the right side of Śiva have several carved images which cannot be recognised due to erosion.
In South India the image, famous as Venkatesa is a remarkable pratima of HariHara. The Indian Museum, Calcutta has three impressive sculptures of Hari-Hara.
A beautiful bi-metallic statue of Hari-Hara is found in old Fort, Bikaner (Rajasthan) in which Visnu is depicted in Bronze and Śiva in Brass. The image is cast as per the rules laid down in the texts. The union of these two forms into one is a very authentic harmony of establishing dual forms which ultimately mingle into one divine Brahman.
Hari-Hara-Pitamaha-Arka: This is a depiction of the Divine Trinity Brahmā. Vişņu and Maheśa along with the fourth aspect of the all illuminating Sun has been added.
The reference to the concept of three gods-unity has its sources as far back as the Vedas which assert the Trinity is of Agni (Fire), Vayu (Air) and Surya (Sun). There is a reference to Trimurti of the divine also found in the famous drama Mṛcchakatikam of Śūdraka.
In the Trinity of Hari-Hara-Pitamaha-Murti, Surya has an important role. In a mantra or invocation to Aditya - the sun, it is said in the heart of Surya dwells Brahma, Viṣņu and Maheśa. Not many references are seen of the image in the ancient texts, yet we do have references in the Rūpāvatāra (7,45.45) and Aparajita Pṛccha (5.212). In some of the images where four faces of Siva are depicted, the fourth is under-stood to be that of Surya.
In Queen's step-well we have an impressive image of Hari-Hara-Pitamaha-Arka. Here the god wears Kirița-the tall crown, armour or kavaca over his chest and his feet are adorned with top boots. His two companions Dandi and Pingala are presented by the side. The image has eight hands out of which only four are preserved. The two hands of Surya have lotuses, two hands of Siva has trident (trisula) and the serpent. Out of two hands of Vişņu, the one holding the lotus is preserved.