Lumbini Mahadevi Temple: Life of the Buddha - Birth of Prince Siddhartha

NEPAL, Bhairahawa

Queen Maya is giving birth to Prince Siddhartha under an asoka tree and grasping one of its branches for support. She is ornately dressed in comparison to the women who serves her and the fabric of her clothing is covered in floriated designs.
Immediately behind, her sister Mahaprajapati is supporting her, while a maid offers her water. The figure with the beard on the far left is the sage Asita, who receives the baby prince with a cloth. The prince himself is located at the foot of the composition in the birth mudra, with one hand pointing to the sky and the other pointing to the earth. His head is framed by a nimbus and his right leg is stepping forward. A band of nine Buddhas grouped in threes runs under the branch at the top and there are inscriptions on the base. The rhythm of the piece moves up the right side, making the queen the focus of attention, then curves in an arch with the branch and descends by means of the figures on the left, thus creating the shape of a mandorla.