The University of Nalanda c12.49

c12.49

Of the gods and goddesses of the Buddhist pantheon we first describe the goddesses Hāritī and Tārā. Worship of these images was prevalent among the Buddhists from a very early date. Figures of Hāritī can be traced even to the Greeko-Gāndhāra art.² And there is no doubt that both Hāritī and Tārā were worshipped at Nālandā. As I-Tsing says, "The image of Hāritī is found either in the porch or in a corner of the dining-hall of all Indian monasteries depicting her as holding a babe in her arms, and round her knees three or five children. Every day an abundant offering of food is made before this image".³ The Nālandā figure of Hāritī illustrates well the description given by I-Tsing. "The goddess is sitting in the Lalitāsana on a seat, adorned with vyālaka motif; a worshipper is pictured to the proper right. In front of the pedestal we notice a mirror, a dish with offerings(?) and a vase. The attributes of the goddess are a lemon in the right hand, the left holding a child which is sitting on her left knee".⁴