Kishibojin 鬼子母神
(Literal translation :Demon child mother god)
Painting on fabric
This art work is influenced by one of the Japanese
goddess call Kishibojin .
According to myth, Hindu Mother of Child-Eating
Demons. She had hundreds of children of her own, to feed them, she abducted and killed the children of
others. The bereaved mothers of her victims pleaded to the Buddha to
save them. So, the Buddha stole the youngest of her son and hid him
under his rice bowl. After desperately searched for her missing son
throughout the universe, Hārītī finally appealed to the Buddha for
help. The Buddha pointed out that she was suffering because she lost
one of hundreds of children, and asked if she could imagine the
suffering of parents whose only child had been devoured. She replied
contritely that their suffering must be many times greater than hers.
She then vowed to protect all children, and in lieu of children's
flesh, she would henceforth only eat pomegranates. She became the
protector of children and women in childbirth.