Conception of the Buddha - Queen Maya's Dream. Medallion on stupa gate railing, red sandstone, Bharhut, Shunga period, 100-50 BCE
Queen Maya conceives the Buddha in an auspicious dream of an elephant; from Bharhut - Image: : columbia.edu
Maya's Dream: The virgin conception of the Buddha
“This carving of the Dream of relates when the Buddha's mother had a dream about that a white elephant entering her body. This is the moment of the Buddha's conception. The sleeping queen is surrounded by three attendants, one of whom flicks a chauri. A water-pot is placed near the head of the bed; at its foot is an incense-burner. The theme of the virgin conception of the Buddha was repeated for many centuries, and was also an important theme in the Greco-Buddhist art of Gandhara.
The story was also known in the Western world as Archelaus of Carrhae (in 278 CE) and Saint Jerome (in 340 CE) both mention the Buddha by name and narrate the tradition of his virgin birth. It has been suggested that this virgin birth legend of Buddhism influenced Christianity.” Description via: Wiki:
