Jain Journal 1980 04

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 66

APRIL, 1980
171
included in the pose lila-tthiya, a term familiar to us from the Prakrit description of a salabhanjiya. 46
All the texts quoted in this article with reference to the birth of the future Buddha Sakyamuni agree that his birth took place while his mother was standing under a tree seizing a branch of it, i.e. in the pose of a salabhanjika. Mahāvastu II, 20.9-10 in addition remarks that a mother of a Bodhisattva does not bring forth a Bodhisattva while sitting or lying as other woman do but only while standing. This is confirmed with regard to the birth of the Bodhisattva Vipasyin too in MAV 5c. 1 and Pali Digh. XIV, 1,24. Pts, Vol. II, p.14. The Chinese version Ta-pen-chin also stresses that Vipasyin was born while his mother was standing seizing the branch of a tree and not while sitting and lying. The same is mentioned in the Ch’i-fo. (cf. Waldschmidt, MAV, p.89, note 1)
The only exception which I came across in Buddhist literature is in Asvaghosa's Buddhacarita I, 8. Here it is narrated that Maya proceeded to a couch (sayyam vitanopathitam) overspread with an awning. There is no mention of Maya standing while having her child!
Cf. The Buddhacartia, ed. by E. H. Johnston, Calcutta, 1935 Part. I Sanskrit Text, p. 1 and Part II. Transtation p. 3 Calcutta, 1936.47
DESCRIPTION OF PLATES
· Fig.1. Culakoka Devata, Bharhut, inscribed, standing in the pose of a salabhanjika under an Asoka-tree.
Date : c. first century B.C. Height : 6' 5". Material : Red sandstone. Housed in : Indian Museum, Calcutta.
(Text references : pages 147, 151, 152, 163, 164, 165.) Fig.2. Canda Yaksi, Bharhut, inscribed, standing in the pose of a salabhanjika under a tree not finally identified.
Date : c. first century B.C. Height : 6' 4". Material : Red Sandstone. Housed in : Indian Museum, Calcutta.
(Text references : pages 147, 163, 164, 165, 166.) Fig.3. Bough of an Asoka-tree with a red blossom identified by Mrs Waldschmidt in the Botanical Garden, Calcutta, on 2nd March, 1958.
(Text references : pages 151, 152.)