Which one of the following statements about the Buddhist Goddess Hariti is correct ?

Hariti was originally a malevolent yakshi (demoness) in Rajgir who devoured the children of others to feed her own five hundred offspring [1]. According to Buddhist legend, the Buddha hid her youngest and most beloved child to make her experience the same grief she inflicted on human mothers [1]. This encounter led to her conversion, where she vowed to cease her predatory habits and became a benevolent protector of children, fertility, and easy childbirth. She is frequently depicted in Buddhist monasteries as a matronly figure surrounded by children, often receiving food offerings as part of monastic rituals [1]. While other Buddhist goddesses exist, such as Prajnaparamita (the personification of wisdom) or Marichi (associated with the dawn), Hariti's specific narrative is defined by her transformation from a blood-thirsty ogress to a maternal guardian [1].

Sources

1. [1] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: Bhakti-Sufi Traditions > 1.2 Difference and conflict > p. 142