The Birth of Lord Buddha

The Birth of Lord Buddha 

 Gandhar School,1st Century CE

            Buddhism had spread throughout India. The Gandhar artist was fascinated by the life of Buddha. Here he depicts the Birth of Buddha. On her way to her parental home, Queen Maya gave birth to Prince Siddharth in a grove of Sal trees. It was an unusual birth as the child was born from the side of Queen Maya. According to some stories Lord Indra had received the child--as shown here. But according to a few, Goddess Hariti, the indian version of the Greek Goddess of childbirth, had received the child.  
             Interestingly the story is Indian, but the figures are Greek. Queen Maya wears Greek clothes and a Greek crown. Gandhar School proves the plurality of our society and culture.