Underground Shrine Queens Stepwell Patan

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

Page 5

Prologue
It was in September, 1995 that Shri Jaikishandas Sadani delivered three lectures on the various sculptures of the Queen's step-well at Patan in North Gujarat, under the auspices of Bharatiya Samskriti Series at Sheth B. J. Institute of Learning and Research, Ahmadabad. I had the honour to preside over the lectures delivered by Shri Sadani with slides exhibiting various sculptures at the ancient magnificent step-well.
Though Shri Sadani looks after the family business of textiles at Ahmadabad and Calcutta, he has persistently pursued his academic love for literature, philosophy and arts. He has edited some valuable books on Indian paintings, Indian sculptures and performing arts (Music, Dance and Drama). He is actively associated with Bharatiya Samskriti Samsad, Calcutta. He has also contributed a number of important papers on philosophy, literature, arts and culture of India and participated in several seminars on the subjects of his choice. At present Shri Sadani is engaged in editing various volumes of the encyclopedia of Indian Culture.
In Gujarat he is ardently interested in the splendid sculptures of the Queen's Step-well at Patan, the reputed ancient metropolis of Gujarat. It was the capital of the Capotkata and the Caulukya dynasties as well as the early Sultans of Gujarat. It was renowned for its magnificent monuments like the Queen's Step-well and the SahasraLinga Lake. Its glory declined since 1411 A.D., when the capital of Gujarat got transferred to Ahmedabad. In course of time Patan was reduced to be the headquarter of taluka in Mehsana District and its ancient glorious monuments got buried undergound. However, it preserved its reputation for the marvellous textiles known as Patola.
During the 20th century the Archaeology Department of the erstwhile Baroda State unearthed the ruins of the Sahasralinga Lake and the Archaeological Survey of India recovered the burried splendid Step-well. Recently Patan has been the head quarters of the North Gujarat University and attained the status of headquarters of a District. The ancient magnificent Step-well which remained burried undergound for several centuries is recently recovered through archaeological excavations, which have unearthed its seven storeys embellished with splendid sculptures carved by the master artists of the 11th century.
This Step-well was built by Queen Udayamati, wife of King Bhimadeva I (10221064 A.D.). She contributed this monument during the reign of her husband, as Merutungācārya alludes to it in the account of Bhimadeva I. Unconscious of the fallacy of anachronism, the author described it as excelling even the Sahasralinga Lake, which was sut sequently built by her grandson Jayasimhadeva. Shri Sadani aptly introduces the Queen's Step-well as an underground shrine, since the magnificent sculptures on the panels and niches in its walls contain figures of various gods
iv