Marici

Bihar, 9th century
Indian Museum, Calcutta

By the time this statue was made, Mahayana Buddhism had elaborated an almost endless set of deities - call it Goddess Inflation. Marici is the Buddhist goddess of the dawn. She has four heads, in common with many Mahayana deities. Only three are visible, but another, looking backwards, is implied by the goddess' four pairs of arms. The base of this magnificent Pala sculpture links Marici to Surya, the Hindu god of the sun; her charioteer drives seven pigs, corresponding to Surya's seven horses.