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Buddha Shakyamuni

The Birth

Artefact Description

In early Gandharan art, when it was not yet permissible to represent the body of the Buddha himself, the portrayal of the Birth of the Buddha was depicted through the figure of his mother, Queen Maya, on a lotus (the symbol of miraculous birth), with two Naga elephants pouring the lustral water over her head.

 

Depicted in the centre of this relief is Queen Maya standing under a Sal tree and grasping one of its branches. On her right are the deities Indra and Brahma, with Indra delivering the infant from the side of his mother, while the rest of her attendants look on in reverence. On the other side of Queen Maya are her lady companions: first, her sister Mahaprajapati, who is supporting her. Then there is a lady carrying a vessel of water. Behind her stood a maid, gazing in astonishment at what is happening. Above them are the celestials, adoring the new-born Prince.

 

This Birth scene is the subject of many Gandhara sculptures, some more abbreviated than this one, but all conforming to the same pattern.4 fig 99 In typical ancient times, everything connected with death and birth would have been considered unclean. It's interesting to note that the presence of two important deities, Indra and Brahma, has religious significance. By gracing the Buddha's birth with their auspicious presence, it indicates that the Buddha's birth was a non-defiling one.

Historical Background

Queen Maya, the Buddha's mother, became pregnant after she dreamt of a magnificent six-tusked elephant entering her womb.

 

When the time grew near, Queen Maya traveled to her parental home at Devadaha city2 p16 to give birth, as was customary for an expectant mother to deliver at her parents’ home. The entourage passed the bountiful grove of Lumbini along the way. Mesmerized, the Queen asked her courtiers to stop. Leaving the palanquin, she entered the grove.

 

While enjoying the beautiful flowers and sweet songs of birds, she suddenly felt the pains of labor. The attending women immediately arranged for a covered place under a big Sala tree full of fragrant flowers, in preparation for Queen Maya's delivery.2 p16 While holding on to a branch of a Sal tree, Queen Maya gave birth to a beautiful prince.4 p44

 

This was on the auspicious full moon day of Vaisakha, in 566 BC, in Lumbini grove, outside Kapilavastu.3 p8

 

The Queen had to postpone the journey to Devadaha and returned to the palace.

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple & Museum Similar Artefacts

Artefact Description

This gold leaf on copper panel is the initial trial panel of the 'Eight Aspects of Buddha's Life'- panels found at the base of the Golden Sacred Relic Buddha Tooth Stupa, located on the 4th floor of the Temple. This was crafted by Shanghai Kangyu Enterprise.

 

The scene of 'Birth of Prince Siddhartha' is elaborated with the vivid depictions of Queen Mahamaya's female companions and deities, rejoicing the delivery of newborn Siddhartha (wrapped in cloth), against the backdrop of the Sal tree.

 

At the center of the lower plane, you will spot a figure of the newborn Prince on a lotus throne, raising his right index finger at the sky and his left-hand finger pointing downwards to the earth. The presence of such hand gestures alludes to the quote, "I am the foremost in the world, the eldest in the world, the most excellent in the world. This is my last birth. No future births exist for me."1 p64-65

Artefact Description

This figure of the baby Buddha is related to the story of his birth, where the newly born Buddha took seven steps in each of the cardinal directions. This is known as one of the miracles of Buddha. With one hand pointing to the heavens and the other pointing to the earth, he proclaimed that he was the only one who could save beings from the endless cycle of suffering.

 

The hair of the baby Buddha is rendered in spiral curls and the ears are elongated, which relates to the Anubyanjana (eighty secondary features of a Great Man).

Ven. Chao Khun Fa ZhaoBBM's Pilgrimage to Lumbini, Nepal

In 2007, the Chief Abbott of Buddha Tooth Relic Temple (Singapore), Venerable Chao Kun Fa Zhao BBM, went on a pilgrimage to Lumbini.

 

Lumbini,3 p68-72 the birthplace of Prince Siddhartha, is one of the four holy places of Buddhism (the other three being Bodhgaya, Sarnath and Kushinagar in India). It is located at the foothills of the Himalayas in modern Nepal. This garden is full of greens and shady Sal trees. It is owned by the Shakyas and the Kolias clans, and the Buddha's father was a Shakya of the warrior class.

 

Many years later, in 249 BCE, when Emperor Ashoka visited Lumbini, it was already a flourishing village. Subsequently, Lumbini remained neglected for centuries, until its Rummendei Asoka Pillar3 p69 was discovered by a German archaeologist in 1895. The Mayadevi Temple and sacred bathing pool Pushkarini are said to be from the time of the Buddha's Birth.

 

In 1996, an archaeological dig unearthed a stone, supposedly placed there by Emperor Ashoka, marking the precise birthplace of Prince Siddhartha 2,600 years ago. If authenticated, Lumbini will be a great draw for millions of Buddhist pilgrims, thereby turning it into a flourishing place once again.

 

Lumbini has been a UNESCO Heritage Site, since 1997.

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Bibliography:

  1. The Lalita Vistara, English Translation by R. L. Mitra, 1998, ISBN 81-7030-576-4
  2. Ven. Weragoda Sarada Maha Thero, Life of The Buddha In Gandhara Art, 2006, ISBN 981-05-7045-7
  3. Department of Tourism, Government of India, Walking with the Buddha, 2nd edition 2004, ISBN 81-87780-24-X
  4. Sir John Marshall, The Buddhist Art of Gandara, 3rd edition 2008, ISBN 978-81-215-0967-1
  5. Ratan Parimoo, Life of the Buddha in Indian Sculpture, 1936, ISBN 13:9788124605523

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