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Devananda's Dream An Interpretation of its Symbolism
prajavati (meaning 'rich in off spring') has no connection with the Vedic god Prajapati 'Lord of beings'128 For the Buddhists, they were merely proper names It is also worth noticing that Asvaghosa 129, too, mentions Maya as the wife of Suddhodana She looks like the goddess of heaven (dividevata), But Maya is not the embodiment of that goddess
As regards the representation mentioned by Foucher, it may be said that on the basis of a single passage it is difficult to interpret the motif as he does. Another passage, earlier than this, could be cited though here elephant and nagas are not mentioned It is stated in the Majjhima Nikaya130 that when the Bodhisattva comes out from his mother's womb the streams of water are poured from the sky, one cold and one hot, with which they performed the abulations of the Bodhisattva and his mother Apart from it, this motif appeared independenly on the facade of Nasik Carlya131 hall and on the doorarch of the Jain cave at Udayagiri in Orissa 132 In the acceptance of Foucher's view it would be difficult to explain the occurrence of the scene of Buddha's nativity on the door of a Jain cave Therefore, it may be treated as the representation of Sri or Laksmi, the goddess of plenty which was known both to the Buddhists and the Jainas In the Lalitavistara 133 and the Mahavastu134 versions of the Atanatıya Sutta the four varieties of the goddess of luck are associated with Virudaka, the regent of Southern quarters and they bear the appellations of Sirimatı, Yasamalı Yasahprapta or Laksmimatı and Yasodhara The Strı Kalakanna-Jataka135 introduces a Sıridevi or Lakkhi, who is described as the daughter of Dhatarattha, the regent of the eastern quarter In this Jataka Sri or luck is constrasted with Kalakarnı or misfortune Siri the goddess is said to have come with radiance and ointment of golden hue and ornament of golden bri
128 Ibid
129 Asvaghosa, Saurunanda, 2 49
130 Majjhuma Nikaya (ed Chiners, London, 1899), Vol III, p 12
131
145
132 Agrawala, VS, Indian Art, p 184
133 Lallavistara, Ch XXIV
134 Mahavastu, III 307
135 Cowell, Jataka Vol p No 383
