Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v1.c14.898

v1.c14.898

He was a Sākiyan,² son of Suddhodana,³ chief ruler of Kapilavatthu, and of Mahā Māyā, Suddhodana’s chief consort, and he belonged to the Gotama-gotta. Before his conception he was in the Tusita heaven, waiting for the due time for his birth in his last existence. Then, having made the “five investigations” (pañcavilokanāni),⁴ he took leave of his companions and descended to earth.⁵ Many wondrous and marvellous events attended his conception and birth.⁶ The conception takes place on the full-moon day of Āsāḷha, with the moon in Uttarāsāḷha, and Māyā has no relations with her husband. She has a marvellous dream in which the Bodhisatta, as a white elephant, enters her womb through her side. When the dream is mentioned to the brahmins, they foretell the birth of a son who will be either a universal monarch or a Buddha.