Water Dharma II - Queens who created exquisite step wells
"Vishnu is the primary deity of the stepwell, and the sculptures are depictions of one of his many forms. This well had seven terraces, each on a separate level, along with a large torana or ceremonial gateway that welcomed the visitor and looked beautiful in its time" -Kirit Mankodi Sri Vishnu as a Seshasayi is the most remarkable and central iconic deity visible through the winding stairways at various levels of Rani Ki Vav, the most ornate stepwells built in 11th century by Queen Udayamati in memory of her husband and Solanki ruler King Bimadeva I. The technological aspects of the well have been praised by experts and endorsed by UNESCO in its recognition of the site as a World Heritage Site in 2014. It combines the utilitarian with the spiritual, as the 24 forms of Vishnu, Gauris, Bhairava and other deities are seen beautifully etches all around the inner niches of the well. Vishnu as a Seshasayi, we recently heard an expert on stepwells, A.S.Pathak s...