Varuni Introduction:

Goddess Varuni, also known as Varunani, is a consort of Lord Varuna. She is the goddess of wine, who emerged during the Samudra Manthana (churning of the ocean) and chose Lord Varuna as her consort.

Sculpture Information:

Goddess Varuni is seated on her mount Makara (a mystical sea creature) in Sukhasana (a type of seating posture).

Makara had an elephant’s trunk, a rhino’s body, a frog’s legs, a fish’s fin and a peacock’s tail.

Varuni is holding a pasa (noose) in her left hand reflecting her role as shakti of Lord Varuna who maintains the natural order and cosmic law. Her damaged right hand was probably in either Abhay or Varada mudra.

Two Gandhrvas are flanking the goddess with garland and flowers on the top corners.

Goddess is wearing a Kitita Mukuta on her head and is also wearing wonderful ornaments around her neck.

This 13th-century AD sculpture belonged to the famous Sun Temple of Konark and is now placed at the National Museum of India in Delhi.  This stone sculpture is a fine print of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty style.

Dimensions of sculptures – height: 73 cm (28.7 in); width: 41 cm (16.1 in); depth: 23 cm (9 in)