Maya (mother of Buddha)

Maya (sometimes maya ) was - the Buddhist tradition, according to - the birth mother of Buddha. It is also known as Mahamaya ( " Great Maya " ) or Mayadevi ( "Queen Maya ," " Goddess Maya "). In Tibetan Buddhism, is her name Gyutrulma. Her name means as much as " enchantment " or " illusion ", which is associated with their extraordinary beauty.

Tradition

Maya was the wife of King Suddhodana of the tribe of the Shakya clan in Kapilavastu and the birth mother of Buddha. After the marriage were granted to King Suddhodana for 20 years no children, Maya dreamed in a full moon night that they get abducted by heavenly spirits ( devas ) to a lake in the mountains of the Himalayas; after a bath in the lake she was dressed by the devas in heavenly robes, sprinkled with precious perfume and been sprinkled with flowers. In sleep you had a white elephant with a lotus flower appeared on the tusk that would have circled it three times and was then invaded by her right side with her. Later the elephant was gone, but after waking she knew that her very special had something happen to them: elephants - especially white - are in Asia as embodiments or as symbols of power and chosen ones.

After ten months of pregnancy, she should have started a journey to her parents' home in Devadaha to deliver there, but already half way there, they have at the present town of Lumbini (Nepal) - standing and on the branches of a Salbaumes ( Shorea robusta), in the ancient scriptures often with an Ashoka tree ( Saraca asoca ) was confused, clinging - a son, to whom they gave the name Siddhartha was born. According to tradition, the birth should be done through the right side Mayas; seven days after the birth she died. This all happened according to Buddhist tradition, in 563 BC ( this dating is, however, for some time now been called into question ). Her son was raised by her sister Mahapajapati Gotami, which was the second wife of King Śuddhodanas.

After Siddhartha had attained enlightenment and Buddha became (Sanskrit " awakened one " or " enlightened one " ), he had his mother in heaven visited for three months, paid her respect and she trained in the teaching of the Dharma.

Buddhism and Christianity

The Christian and the Buddhist tradition have certain parallels with respect to the virginal conception, the birth of his son on a trip and which - by legends or by the evangelists Matthew ( Mt 1:1-17 EU) and Luke ( Lk 3:23 - 38 EU ) constructed itself - royal lineage. But there are also significant differences - for example, Mary died not after the birth of her divine Son.

Greek and Roman Mythology

Worth mentioning is also the name of equality to Maia, the dark night by Zeus -pregnant mother of the Greek messenger god Hermes. Even a Roman fertility goddess named Maia.