Underground Shrine Queens Stepwell Patan

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

Page 41

Underground Shrine : Queen's step-well at Patan
Parvati as Gauri is a beautiful sculpture of great dignity and grace. The goddess has four hands. One hand carries the Sivalinga image, the other opposite hand carries the image of Ganesa. The lower hand carries a Varadamālā and the opposite hand has a kalasa or a pitcher. This posture is not the one in which Parvati is performing penance amidst five fires. This is a benevolent frontal posture. Her head is surrounded by an orb of rays that casts a divine lusture on her face. Beautiful ornaments adorn her figure. The jewel embedded crown kirita, studded ear-rings, necklace, garland, decorated girdle, armlets, bracelets, breast-band and anklets all go in for enhancing the majestic disposition of the goddess.
On either side of the image are two maidens, standing in worship. On the surrounding frame there are four figures on either side. The two upper figures, in the sitting postures of goddesses which cannot be recognised. On the upper top of the frame is the seated Gaņeśa. Reference to Gauri is made in all important art treatises. Rūpamaņdana (5,1-7), Agni Purāņa (52.14), Silpa Ratna (24-60) and (2461) allude to Pārvati as Gaurī.
Pārvati is one of the most beautiful goddesses. The artists of the step-well have sculpted over 15 images of the goddess in various moods, as a divine mother, in all her majesty. As Gauri she is shown in meditation and in penance.
This panel depicts Pārvati in a very impressive standing posture in her graceful tribhanga or balancing on a leg in three beautiful gentle bends of the body. She has four hands which hold varadaksa māla, ladle, a bunch of kuća grass and a kalasa or pitcher. A crown adorns her head. All the studded royal ornaments enhance her majestic grandeur. Behind her head is an encircling halo that asserts her divinity. The surrounding frame has figures of goddesses. Near her feet on either side are two maidens in her service. This is well chiselled image which has suffered no erosion or any damage.
Kșemankari Durgā is the benevolent goddess in Sānta Bhāva or perfect poise. She can be said to be Vatsalya Mūrti. She is the divine mother having immense love for children. She bestows what the devotee needs and protects what he already possesses. In Queen's step-well we have two beautiful images of Kșemankari Durgā. One is in the standing posture with her attending maids. The other is in the sitting posture with the child seated on her lap. The standing image of the goddess is in a good condition. It is a beautiful figure highly ornamented with lovely ear-rings, necklace, jewels-studded garland, armlets, bracelets, gridle, kațimekhalā or waistband and anklets. Her hair are in the form of jatā tied on the top-knot embedded with ornaments. In her four hands she holds a trident-trisüla, a varadaksamala, an