Buckle with the Gods Hariti and Pancika thumbnail 1
On display

Buckle with the Gods Hariti and Pancika

Sculpture
4th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This repousse plaque was formed by hammering over a die, then neatly joined with solder to a plain backing sheet. The cracked and damaged back has two attached tangs and is partly repaired in one corner. On the front, within a beaded, rectangular frame, a man and woman are seated on a throne in the royal lalitasana pose, with their torsos facing forwards and their heads slightly turned towards each other. Their features are now worn and not easily distinguishable, but appear to have been depicted with round faces and wide-open eyes. A halo indicates the divine status of each figure, while the floating ribbon issuing from behind the male head has royal connotations and resembles the Sasanian form also found on coins of the Kushano-Sasanian rulers.
The man is adorned with a torque, bangles and armlets, and is dressed in the same way as Kubera or Panchika figures on schist reliefs in knee-length Kushan boots, a short-sleeved tunic and a Greek chlamys, fastened with a circular fibula on his thigh. His left hand, with the little finger extended, holds a long staff between the index and middle finger.
The long dress of the woman is draped over her right calf so that the foot remains visible, and then falls in a series of folds to completely cover her left leg. She wears large earrings, bangles and armlets. Her crown of juxtaposed half-lotus flowers resembles those worn by Bodhisattva of the fouth century AD and later at Hadda. In her right hand she holds a long stemmed lotus and in her left a cornucopia.
The couple is clearly recognisable as Hariti and Panchika or Kubera, the god of wealth.

Object details

Object type
TitleBuckle with the Gods Hariti and Pancika (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Gold repousse
Brief description
Gold repousse, Taxila (?), Punjab, Pakistan, Kusana period
Physical description
This repousse plaque was formed by hammering over a die, then neatly joined with solder to a plain backing sheet. The cracked and damaged back has two attached tangs and is partly repaired in one corner. On the front, within a beaded, rectangular frame, a man and woman are seated on a throne in the royal lalitasana pose, with their torsos facing forwards and their heads slightly turned towards each other. Their features are now worn and not easily distinguishable, but appear to have been depicted with round faces and wide-open eyes. A halo indicates the divine status of each figure, while the floating ribbon issuing from behind the male head has royal connotations and resembles the Sasanian form also found on coins of the Kushano-Sasanian rulers.
The man is adorned with a torque, bangles and armlets, and is dressed in the same way as Kubera or Panchika figures on schist reliefs in knee-length Kushan boots, a short-sleeved tunic and a Greek chlamys, fastened with a circular fibula on his thigh. His left hand, with the little finger extended, holds a long staff between the index and middle finger.
The long dress of the woman is draped over her right calf so that the foot remains visible, and then falls in a series of folds to completely cover her left leg. She wears large earrings, bangles and armlets. Her crown of juxtaposed half-lotus flowers resembles those worn by Bodhisattva of the fouth century AD and later at Hadda. In her right hand she holds a long stemmed lotus and in her left a cornucopia.
The couple is clearly recognisable as Hariti and Panchika or Kubera, the god of wealth.
Dimensions
  • Height: 3.6cm
  • Width: 4.4cm
Width: 1 3/8 in Height: 1 3/4 in
Style
Gallery label
(25/09/2000)
PLAQUE DEPICTING PANCIKA AND HARITI
Gold repoussé
From the vicinity of Taxila,
Pakistan
2nd – 3rd century

IS 10-1948
(25/09/2000)
BUCKLE DEPICTING HARITI AND KUVERA
Gold repoussé
From the vicinity of Taxila, W. Punjab
2nd – 3rd century

IS 10-1948
(06/06/2011)
11. Plaque showing the Deities Panchika and Hariti
200–400
Hariti was a ferocious folk deity whom the Buddha converted to Buddhism. From being an ogress who ate children, she became a deity who protected them. Her consort Panchika became the Buddhist god of riches and guardian of the north. He wears a tunic in the Central Asian style, high boots and a cloak. Hariti is dressed in Hellenistic style.
Gold
Pakistan (Taxila region, Punjab Province)
Museum no. IS.10-1948
Object history
47/1457 47/1681,
Bought from D.H.Gordon collection, 1948.
Historical context
Hariti and her consort Pancika were both folk deities elevated to the status of minor gods in early Buddhism. Hariti, before her conversion a devourer of children, became a protector of the young. She is dressed in Hellenistic attire and holds a lotus. Pancika, a yaksa associated with wealth, became the Buddhist god of riches Kubera and guardian of the northern direction. He wears the central Asian tunic, high boots and cloak of the Kusanas. The border design replicates the pearls seen on the accompanying gold pendant ( IS 9-1948 ).
Production
Taxila (?), Punjab, Pakistan
Subject depicted
Bibliographic references
  • PUBLISHED L. Ashton, 1947-8, no.192, p.156 Doshi (ed.), 1985, p.v The Crossroads of Asia, Transformation in Image and Symbol, Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, 1992, Dr.C.Fabregues, p.144
  • Susan Stronge, Nima Smith, and J.C. Harle. A Golden Treasury : Jewellery from the Indian Subcontinent London : Victoria and Albert Museum in association with Mapin Publishing, Ahmedabad, 1988. ISBN: 0944142168 Plate 1, page 16
Collection
Accession number
IS.10-1948

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Record createdFebruary 13, 2000
Record URL
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