Varunani

Description

In the Vedas Varun is one of the great four gods. According to many, He is the creator. According to some, He is the God of ocean. He is generally shown riding a mixed animal that has the legs of a lion, has a tusk of an elephant, the tail of a fish. This creature merely suggests that life is a mystery, it is full of contradictions, but it is acceptable. Varunani is the Shakti (energy) of God Varun. She holds a noose in one hand so as to symbolise her ability to catch and hold things. She too sits on a hybrid animal called "Makar." This animal is also the symbol for Capricorn sign of the zodiac. Varuni, also known as Varunani and Jaldevi, is the consort of Varuna, often depicted with her husband. She is goddess of wine. She is described in Rig-Veda.According to the legend, Varuni was married to Varuna after she came out of the Samudra manthan, during the churning of the amrita. Figure of Varunani, the consort of Varuna, with the pasa in her hand. Right arm and left forearm are broken and lost. She is seated on an elaborately carved makara with her right leg suspended and left flexed at the knee. She wears an ornamented conical crown, earrings, necklaces of pearls, stanottariya, armlets, anklets and a lower garment held at the waist by a double chord band. Her breasts are prominently carved in round. The nose is slightly damaged. A decorative niche on the back slab with two makaras on either end and a kirtimukha on top are flanked by two pairs of flying celestials.