Shalabhanjika

Bharhut, c. 100 BC
Indian Museum, Calcutta

Grasping the tree in this time-honored pose is a shalabhanjika, one of several from Bharhut. The yakshi who grasps, kicks, or twines herself around a tree is a symbol of fruitfulness, like the dryads of ancient Greek mythology, and a similar pose is often used in scenes of Maya giving birth to the Buddha, who emerges from her side.