RARE FIGURE OF THE BUDDHIST DEITY MARICI.

Origin: North-East India. Orissa or possibly Bengal.
Dynasty: Orissa art with strong Pala influence.
Date: 11th c.
Technique: Black stone; carved and polished.
Description: Marici stands in a bold lunge (alidhapada) to the right on a double lotus. The very
sensually depicted lady is dressed in a diaphanous skirt elegantly pleated between the
legs. She has three faces; the left of which is a sow's head. Of the attributes in her
eight hands; the following are identifiable: Needle and thread in the lowest hands; bow
and Ashoka branch in the third and fourth left hands; the vajra in her uppermost right;
and a three-pronged arrow in her middle right hand. Next to the main figure the small
goddesses Usha and Pratyusha; who have the task to drive away the demons of darkness with
arrows. Below the lotus a sun chariot drawn by seven pigs with a makara and a rahu in the
center. A small Buddha at the top identifies the stele as a Buddhist sculpture
Measurement: Height 58 cm; width 30 cm; depth 10.5cm.


Although the figure has a strong Pala influence; the shape of the leaves of the lotus; the flame bands of the back plate; and the facial expression all point to a possible Orissa origin.

Provenance:
European private collection.