Question

Sculpture of a Buddhist goddess 'Marichi' was found in ________.

• A. Bihar
• B. United Provinces
• C. Maharashtra
• D. Bengal

Hint:

Remember key NCERT illustrations:
The stone sculpture of the goddess Marichi illustrated in the visual archives of NCERT Themes in Indian History is specifically cataloged from Bihar (c. 10th century CE).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Concept:
During the early medieval era (c. eighth to twelfth centuries CE), Vajrayana (Tantric) Buddhism developed a complex pantheon of deities, including male Bodhisattvas and female Taras and goddesses.
Sculptural remains from eastern India reflect the synthesis of Buddhist iconography with indigenous aesthetic traditions.

Step 1: Iconographic Context of Marichi:
Marichi is a prominent Vajrayana Buddhist goddess associated with light, dawn, and the rays of the rising sun.
She is traditionally depicted as a radiant multilimbed deity, frequently riding a chariot drawn by seven pigs or boars.
She carries solar attributes, weapons, and emblems that dispel obstacles and ignorance.

Step 2: Archaeological Provenance:
Under the patronage of the Pala dynasty in eastern India, major monastic universities like Nalanda, Vikramashila, and Odantapuri became centers of stone and bronze sculpture.
A renowned, beautifully carved stone sculpture of the Buddhist goddess Marichi, dating to the ninth-tenth century CE, was discovered in Bihar.
This sculpture illustrates the complex syncretism and high artistic sophistication of medieval Buddhist sculpture in Bihar.
Final Answer:
The sculpture of the Buddhist goddess 'Marichi' was found in Bihar.