Statue of Hariti

The standing figure of goddess Hariti as bearing three children (two on shoulders and one in lap). She is shown adorned with a crown like beaded fillet, fore-head pendant , pendentive ear rings and set of bangles.

According to tradition, Hariti had five hundred sons but she used to devour the children of Rajagriha. The Buddha hid under his alms bowl the best loved of her sons When she wandered everywhere in his search the Buddha said to her "your heart is broken because of one lost son out of five hundred; how much grieved must they be who by your deeds have lost all their offsprings? Listening to this she repented and was converted