Hariti

Hārītī (Sanskrit), also known as Chinese: 鬼子母(神); pinyin: Guǐzǐmǔ(shén), Japanese: 鬼子母神, romanized: Kishimojin, is revered as a fierce Dharma Protector in the Vajrayana tradition of Nepalese Buddhism, and revered both as a goddess and demon in other Mahayana Buddhist traditions where she is one of the Twenty-Four Protective Deities.

In both Chinese and Japanese Buddhism, she is venerated as a protector deity, but in many folk traditions is often recognized as a female demon of misery and unhappiness towards children and parents.

According to a Thai-Burmese Thervada oral story popular in southeast asia, Abhiriti or Hariti was a yakshani born in Buddhasasana of Buddha Vesabhu.

Out of mercy, Hariti with help of divine powers, rain was happened, greenery was returned and blessed the earth realm with prosperity.

In search of experience of motherhood, she started bringing unhappy human babies in her abode from Rajgir city where the Buddha Shakyamuni was staying.

According to another Mahayana myth, Hārītī was originally a rākṣasī of Rajgir at the same time that Gautama Buddha also lived there.

[1][2] In the Japanese version of the tale, Kishimojin enlisted the aid of the Ten Rākṣasī Women (十羅刹女, jūrasetsunyo) to abduct and murder the children of other families.

In Chinese tradition, she is one of the Twenty-Four Protective Devas (二十四諸天 Èrshísì zhūtiān), a group of Dharmapalas who are venerated as protectors of Buddhists and the Dharma.

[4] Statues of this group (and Hārītī) are often enshrined within the Mahavira Hall in Chinese temples and monasteries.

Her iconography is based mostly on the Dai Yakusha Nyo Kangimo Narahini Aishi Jōjuhō (大薬叉女歓喜母并愛子成就法).

[2] In Japanese tradition, Kishimojin is an aspect of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, and she bears the epithets "Bringer of Happiness" (歓喜母) and "Giver of Children and Easy Delivery" (子安鬼子母神).

The iconography of Hārītī shows similarities to the Greek goddess Tyche and may have been transmitted to East Asia through the influence of Greco-Buddhism.