Underground Shrine Queens Stepwell Patan

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

Page 51

Underground Shrine : Queen's step-well at Patan
other ornaments. They are necklace, mangala sūtra, long garland, jewel studded armlets and bracelets, breast- band, decorative waist-band, the sārī's end hangs folded till the knees, and a long flower garland or vanamālā.
She has four hands. The upper right hand has the aksamālā, lower right is in the blessing gesture. The upper left hand has the vīņā-the lute and the lower left hand has the kamandalu or the pitcher. On the surrounding frame there is Ganesa with the image of seven Mātrkās or mother goddesses. On the right side the miniature images are of Kumāri sitting in lalitasana, and the standing figures of Vaisnavi, Vārāhi and Indrāni in the tribhanga (three-bend) posture. On the left panel on the top is Ganesa, the sitting image is of Camundā and the standing images are of Brāhmi and Mahesvarī in the tribhanga pose. Near the feet of the main image are two attendants standing on either side. They are holding garlands in hand. The art treatises Agni Purāņa (49-20), Rūpamandana (5.62) and Visņu Dharmottra (3.64.1-4) and other books, all describe in detail the mūrtividhana of the Goddess Sarasvati.
River Goddesses have an important place in the step-well. Their images are spangled in between the panels. The goddess is shown with four hands holding a Varadamālā, rosary, a lotus and a pitcher.
The image of one of the goddesses is canopied with a three-hooded serpent. The usual ornaments adorn her graceful figure. Snakes and river goddess have an intimate relationship, as water snakes are always found wriggling in the waters. They, therefore, naturally find their true representation in the step-well which is essentially a water reservoir.
Sūryāṇi the consort of Sürya or the Sun is an independent standing image is a frontal pose. The Goddess has matted hair in the form of a crown or mukuta. Behind her face is a luminous orb in the shape of a lotus leaf. In her ears she wears kundala ear-rings in the shape of a conch. She has a necklace, round her neck, a long studded garland, bracelets and armlets. A flower garland hangs right below the knees. She wears a waist-band and a thin textured sāri, the folds of which hang between her thighs. In her feet she has her anklets. She has four hands. In her upper right hand she holds a lotus with the stalk nāla, in the lower one she holds a varadaksa mala, a rosary. The upper left hand is broken while the lower left hand holds a water pot or kamandalu. In either side of the panel near the feet of the goddess are two-two attendents, on the top of the image is a semi-circle arch with engravings which are not quite recognisable. It is a very impressive image revealing grace, dignity and luminosity behoving a consort of one, whose refulgence lights the whole universe.