Marici is the Buddhist Goddess of Light. Her Hindu counterpart is Surya, the Sun God. In this perfectly preserved sculpture she is a most youthful figure who wears sumptuous jewelry and finely incised diaphanous dhoti with an elaborate textlie pattern. The inscription above the goddess is from the Buddhist creed.
Marici stands in the alidham or militant posture. Of her three faces the one on the left is a boar. She generally rides a chariot of seven pigs, descendants of the wild boar. Her center left hand is held against her breast. The center right hand appears to hold the needle she uses to sew up the mouths of the wicked. The lower left probably holds a thread. The center right holds an arrow, and the upper right hand holds the thunderbolt. The upper left hand holds the leaves of the asoka plant.
