Ajanta: The Colour and Monochrome Reproductions of the Ajanta Frescoes Based on Photography v2.c8.s20.4

v2.c8.s20.4

² Hāritī was originally an ogress, and once she wished to devour all the children in Rājagṛha. Her brother remonstrated with her in vain, and hoping to turn her from her evil design, united her with the *Yaksha* general Pāñcika. Hāritī had five hundred children as the result of this marriage, and of these the youngest was called Priyaṅkara. But in Rājagṛha there were bitter lamentations, for all the children of the town had disappeared, and a spirit told the bereaved parents that their children had been devoured by the Yakshiṇī Hāritī, and they must go to the Buddha and ask for his help. The people of Rājagṛha went to the Buddha, who was moved by their wailings, and on the following morning he proceeded towards the house of Hāritī, and lifting her youngest son Priyaṅkara, hid him under his begging bowl. Not finding the boy, Hāritī was much agitated, and searched for him in all directions. Afterwards she was advised to wait on the Buddha and to put her faith in him. The Yakshiṇī in the beginning seems to have shown temper, but ultimately prostrated herself before him and pleaded respectfully: ‘O Bhagavat, I beseech you to let me have my son Priyaṅkara.’ The Buddha replied that she must first promise to follow his precepts and accord security to all the people of Rājagṛha, after which Priyaṅkara would be restored to her. She acceded to the command of the Buddha and forswore cannibalism. *Vide* Getty, *The Gods of Northern Buddhism*, pp. 84–5; Waddell, *Evolution of the Buddhist Cult*, p. 148; Hsüan-tsang, *Buddhist Records*, vol. i, pp. 110–11; and I-ching, *Record of the Buddhist Religion*, pp. 87–8.