Hariti is known as the Indian Children’s Goddess and the Buddhist Protector of Children. As a Goddess of Children, she really likes kids and is always on the side of children. She belongs to the Iranian folk figure, originally and later absorbed into the blossoming movement of the Buddhists. Head of the Yakshas is her husband who is Yasksha Panchaka of Gandhara. They both together were parents of 500 children.
Before Buddha, there were two popular deities namely Yakshini and Yaksha. Some evidence in Buddhist literature indicates that Buddha tried suppressing these two deities. Goddess Yakshini is known by a number of names including Hariti, Alika, Kunti, Magha, Bhatta, Benda and many others. As far as Yakshi’s cult worship was concerned, she was given much prominence initially as per Buddhist literature and religion. Instructions were given to disciples to make offerings and worship her. This deity Hariti was considered for safeguarding children as well as Sangha, the monastery. Hariti belongs to Rajgriha as a female divinity.
The meaning of Hariti is ‘a thief’. She was considered to be a ‘devourer and abductor of children’ inititally, according to Buddhist literature. Later however, she transformed into a guardian of children as well as a monastery, on being blessed with Lord Buddha’s teachings.
Every monastery’s entrance was adorned with the statue of Hariti. In Barahut and Sanchi there are a number of Buddhist stupas adorned with stautes of Hariti. It is believed that she is a symbol of affluences and resourcefulness of the Sangha.
