Marichi (English: Goddess of the Dawn. Tibetan: od zer chan ma). This sculpture belongs to a three sculpture set with Green Tara at the center, the goddess Marichi placed to her right (the viewer's left) and the semi-wrathful goddess Ekajati placed on Tara's left (viewer's right). See a painted image of these three figures in a single composition.

The Goddess of the Dawn is depicted in many different forms. Sometimes she rides a white horse through the sky, banishing the darkness and driving back the night with the orb of the sun in the outstretched right hand, more commonly she is yellow in colour, with three faces and six arms, seated on a chariot drawn by seven pigs, removing all obstacles to happiness and well-being. The metaphor for meditation and spiritual practice is light, light overcoming darkness.

This form of the Goddess, seated in a relaxed pose, is an attendant figure accompanying Green Tara. Marichi is placed on the right side of Tara. A second attendant figure, Ekajati, would complete the three deity composition and she would sit or stand at the left of Tara.

The round face, ornamentation and jewelry, patterned etching on the garments, along with the multi-leveled lotus base is all characteristic of Mongolian sculpture from the 17th century. The Tara and Ekajati sculptures that belong with this Marichi are exhibited in the Winter Palace Museum, Ulan Batar, Mongolia. All three sculptures are believed to have been made by the 17/18th century Mongolian Buddhist teacher and artist Zanabazar (Yeshe Dorje).

Jeff Watt 5-2005