Borobudur Relief

The future Buddha resides as a Bodhisattva in Tusita Heaven. Countless divine beings remind him that after aeons of self-perfection the time for his last incarnation has arrived.

The Bodhisattva announces to the assembled gods of all universes his impending final incarnation on earth.

Various deities descend to earth and assume the appearance of brahmins, helping to prepare for the upcoming arrival of the Great Being

After the place, family and circumstances for the Bodhisattva's birth have been determined, deities descend in the area of Varanasi (Benares), India, and exhort hundreds of Pratyekabuddhas* who dwell there to make way for the coming Buddha. The rsis rise up into the sky and vanish in a flash into nirvana.

*(Solidarity or silent Buddha, one who is awaken by his efforts, but not able to teach Dharma to others).

Before his descent to earth the Bodhisattva preaches to the assembled gods the "108 luminous access doors to the Dharma", a basic introduction to the Dharma.

As he takes leave from Tusita Heaven the Bodhisattva passes his crown on the Bodhisattva Maitreya, whom he designates as the next Buddha to follow him.

The Bodhisattva deliberates with the Devas* in which form best to enter his future mother's womb. According to ancient tradition he should assume the shape of a white elephant with six golden tusks and a rosy head.

*(A god residing in one of the six heavens of the desire realm)

Queen Mayadevi, the wife of king Suddhodana of Kapilavastu, has been chosen to become the Buddha's mother. Not yet aware of this divine choice, she asks the king for his permission to retire to a retreat where she would practice "self-denial".

Ancious to meet the mother of the future Buddha, a great number of Devas descend to earth to visit Queen Mayadevi in her palace and to pay homage to her.

The gods deliberate among themselves who should accompany the Bodhisattva on his descent to earth and pay a last homage to the Buddha-to-be.

As the Bodhisattva prepares himself to descend to earth vast number of other Bodhisattvas who also await but one final incarnation gather from the ten directions of the wind and pay final homage.

On his "Great Descent" to earth the Bodhisattva is gloriously accompanied by innumerable divine beings.

In a dream Mayadevi conceives the Buddha in the form of a small white elephant with six golden tusks who enters her right side. Simultaneously, a giant lotus, containing the quintessence of all creation grows form the bottom of the ocean, all the way to Brahma's heaven.

Inside of his mother's womb, the Bodhisattva, who does not assume the form of a human fetus, resides in a jeweled pavilion reflecting everything belonging to the realm of desire. The posture of his hands indicates that he is preaching the Dharma to Brahma, Indra and other gods who visit him.

Queen Mayadevi moves with her retinue from her palace to the pleasure grove of Lumbini shaded by Asoka tress. From there she dispatches a servant to go and summon her husband to join her.