Underground Shrine Queens Stepwell Patan

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

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Gods and Goddesses
ancient days. During the days of Panini, Yakṣa was worshipped (Panini, Su., 2.2.34). In Jain tradition Yakṣas are followers of the tirthankaras, hence their worship was in vogue. The images of Lord Kubera are found in Jaina temples also. The treatises of Silpa ratna, Agni Purana (52.21), Abhilaṣitartha Cintamani (3.1.790-91), Visņu Dharmottara (3.53.1-6) etc. describe Kubera with slight variations in respect to the objects he holds in the hands and also regarding the mount on which he is seated. In Queen's step-well he is depicted in a robust stout figure with a bulging belly. He has four hands. In the main right hand he has a goad, and in the main left hand a noose-pasa. In his rear left hand he has a money purse. The object in the fourth hand is not distinct and cannot be identified. His mount elephant is sitting near his feet. In Agni Purana, however, the mount is stated to be a goat and in Rupamaṇḍana the mount is a man. So also differences are there in the objects in Kubera's hand. Kubera having noose or pasa is described in Hemādri(1-2).
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In another panel in the step-well he is shown sitting with his consort Bhadra. Beautiful images of Kubera are there in the Mathura Museum and the Indian Museum of Calcutta. In ancient temples of Gujarat, images of Kubera are very common.
Varuņa is a very famous vedic god. He is extolled in the prayers along with Indra. He is one among the pañca Mahabhūtas being the Lord of Water and Air. He is thus the bequeather of life or praṇa to all living beings. He rules the western direction and is the god of the ocean, water and the clouds (Rgveda, 51-63). There is a standing image of Varuna in the step-well. He has four hands holding a varadamālā, a goad, a noose and a pitcher or kamaṇḍalu. But in the Puranic texts goad is not mentioned in his hand. Being a Dikpala the protector of the western direction his images are very common in Gujarat temples, though an independent temple dedicated to Varuna is not there. The art treatises have ample descriptions of Varuna with variations in the objects held in the hand as alluded in Agni Purana (52), Matsya Purana (261), Vişņu Dharmottara Purana (3.52.2-4), Rūpa Mandana (2.35) and others. His mount is said to be makara or the crocodile. His image apart from those in the the temples is also commonly found in water reservoirs.
Vasus are the preservers of waters in the well. They assimilate the water of the well with that of the Ganges. In Aitareya Brahmana (2.15) and in Satapatha Brāhmaṇa (4.5.7) we have references to the eight Vasus. Rgveda tells us that Vasu, Rudra and Adityas dwell in earth, sky, and heaven (Rg., 7.36.14). In Queen's step-well there are several panels depicting different Vasus. They have a bovine face and in their two hands they hold in one a water pitcher, while the object in the second hand is not very distinct. In the puraņas the eight Vasus are stated as Anala, Anila, Āpa,