Hariti Maa temple at Swayambhunath

The base of the Hariti Maa (Ajimaa) temple located at Swayambhunath. This temple houses a fierce goddess who is remembered for the terror inspired by her habit of stealing and eating human children (and feeding them to own large family of 500 children) before the Buddha intervened and helped her to feel compassion for the heartbroken parents of the children she had killed. Having then vowed never to steal or eat other people’s children again, she is now thought to use her power to help and protect people, and particularly children. For this reason, both Hindus and Buddhists come  to Swayambhu to make offerings at this shrine  when their children are sick or in need of assistance.

A lesser-known legend, from the the Swayambhu Purana, depicts Hariti as an ogre who came to reside at Swayambhu in order to gain Buddhist knowledge and serve the stupa. When she was ignored by the tantric master Shantikar Acharya, who built the original stupa to protect a miraculous lotus and self-originated flame, the spire of the chaitya would not stand up straight. It straightened when he realized her aspirations and offered her tantric teachings and the opportunity to reside at the stupa as the protector of the site and dharma.

According to the Buddhacharya priests who share their knowledge at Swoyambhstupa.com: Hariti Maa “can bestow accomplishments, counteract evil omens, exert control over evil and also can punish those who desecrate Swoyambhu Mahachaitya (Stupa). She can also eliminate the poverty of devotees who have faith and devotion to her. She is also said to be Ratnajpitha, i.e. the treasure of jewels over which Swoyambhu Stupa was erected and stands as it is day.”