2.  Yaksha and Yakshi are minor local dieties.  Yaksha means –male earth spirit.  Yakshi means- female earth spirit  These semi-gods dwell in the hills and mountains and are considered to be guardians of precious metals, stones and jewels in the womb of the earth, that is why they are popularly called as earth spirits.

3.  The worship of these deities continues till date all over India.  Yaksha are usually associated with a place and frequently connected with wealth.  Yakshi belonged to the complex religious beliefs that preceded, coexisted with and were destined to outlast Buddhism in India.  The Yakshas and Yakshinis figures decorate mainly the east and the north Tornas or monumental gateways of the stupa.

4.  This yakshi is on the railing relief of the Bharhut stupa.  She is shown standing on an elephant.  Yakshis were also called as ‘Shalabhanjikas’- meaning a beautiful women who can by the mere touch of her foot, cause a tree to bloom.  This symbolism goes back to centuries when trees were associated with fertility rites.

6.  The figure is 7 feet in height.  It supports the end of the lower lintel.  The figure is fully rounded, the sensuousness enhanced by the flowing line running from the tree trunk to the bending branches.  One arm is raised holding the branch and the other is entwined around the tree trunk.

7.  She is also shown in the typical ‘Shalabhanjika’ posture.  She is wearing an elaborate head dress, her hair are braided.  She is wearing ankle and arm bracelets.  She also wears multiple necklaces.  She wears a girdle and has auspicious tattoo marks on her cheeks.

8.  The left leg is slightly raised and entwined around the tree trunk in a very sensuous way.  The figure of the yakshi is voluptuous and full-bodied with beautifully carved ornaments.  The dress is conventionalized with long parallel pleats boarded with chevron ( ‘V’- Shaped stripe) folds.  The Yakshi figures are made with their hips tilted that is characteristic of female figures in sculptor and painting

9.  The male Yaksha figure is the king of Yakshas and guardian of the North, Kuvera.  The relief sculpture is on the north gate- post of the Bharhut stupa.  The time period is 2 nd century B.C.  It is made of red sandstone.

10.  He is standing with one foot raised on the toe and the other resting completely over the animal base.  His hands are crossed along the chest.  Eyes are closed in some thoughts.  Neck, ears, hands all are decorated with jewellery.

11.  The sculptures of the Shunga period show the evolution from an archaic phase to one of maturity.  The spirits of Yaksha figures were later transferred into the images of Bodhisattva icon.  Bodhisattva Maitreya from Mathura (A.D.130)s is the beast example of the transformed and a refined version of the Yaksha images.