Sanchi Stupa 1: Yaksini

INDIA, Madhya Pradesh, Sanchi

The image of a yaksini standing under a tree was a symbol of fertility and prosperity, and widely worshipped in ancient India. Yaksas have long been incorporated as regional guardians the Buddhist pantheon. This figure, found at the junction of a column and a gateway crossbar, functions both as a decorative element and as a structural reinforcement.
The yaksini is portrayed with her right arm hooked around a branch of a heavily fruited mango tree as she steadies herself on another. Her braided hair is tied into a fan-shaped topknot resembling a peacock tail and also spills onto the shoulders. The figure is posed in the tribhanga posture and the limbs are ornamented with long spiral bracelets and anklets. The material of the skirt is so sheer at the front that the details of her body show through.