Pomergranate

The pomegranate in Japan
In Japan, Kishimojin or Kariteimo, is worshiped by infertile women to bring fertility to their wombs, for she is regarded the Buddhist Goddess of Easy Delivery, Giver of Children, & Guardian of Children. Often depicted suckling an infant and holding the Pomegranate in Right Hand – a symbol of fertility due to its many seeds (and is often compared to Athena often depicted holding a pomegranate in her left hand as well as the Madonna in Christian iconographic paintings, where the Virgin Mary often holds Persephone’s pomegranate, symbolizing Mary’s authority over the death of her son). The deity is particularly venerated by Japan’s Nichiren Sect and to Devotees of the Lotus Sutra, and has its origins in the Hariti (Sanskrit = Hāritī), the Protector of children; wife of Panchik, who is regarded to have originally been the Hindu Mother of Child-Eating Demons who repented and converted to Buddhism.