Ajanta: The Colour and Monochrome Reproductions of the Ajanta Frescoes Based on Photography v2.c8.s9.8

v2.c8.s9.8

season for your Buddhaship has now arrived’. The Great Being assented to their wish and pointed out the time, the continent, the country, and the family regarding his birth. Concerning the family he observed: ‘I will be born into a warrior family, and King Śuddhodana of Kapilavatthu shall be my father and Queen Mahā-Māyā my mother.’ The events took place as the Great Being had foretold, and at the time of the Midsummer Festival Queen Mahā-Māyā saw in a dream that the four guardian angels came and lifted up her couch and took it to a golden mansion on the Silver Hill. There they showed reverence to her, and having cleansed her from every human stain anointed her with perfumes, and clothed her in divine garments. Afterwards a white elephant entered the golden mansion, and walking thrice round the couch of Mahā-Māyā, he struck her on the right side and entered her womb. When the queen awoke, she told the dream to the king, who asked Brāhmans for the interpretation. They observed that the queen had conceived a male child, who, when born, if he continued to live the household life, would become a Universal Monarch, but if he left the household life, would become the Buddha, and roll back the clouds of sin and folly of this world.