The Bodhisatta's Birth

There was in Kapilavatthu a Sakya king, strong of purpose and reverenced by all men, a descendent of the Okkakas, who call themselves Gotama, and his name was Suddhodana or Pure Rice.
His wife Maya-devi was beautiful as the water-lily and pure in mind as the lotus.  As the Queen of Heaven, she lived on earth, untainted by desire, and immaculate.
The king, her husband, honoured her in her holiness, and the spirit of truth, glorious and strong in his wisdom like unto a white elephant, descended upon her.
When she knew that the hour of motherhood was near, she asked the king to send her home to her parents; and Suddhodana, anxious about his wife and the child she would bear him, willingly granted her request.
At Lumbini there is a beautiful grove, and when Maya-devi passed through it the trees were one mass of fragrant flowers and many birds were warbling in their branches.  The Queen, wishing to stroll through the shady walks, left her golden palanquin, and, when she reached the giant sala tree in the midst of the grove, felt that her hour had come.  She took hold of a branch.  Her attendants hung a curtain about her and retired.
When the pain of travail came upon her, four pure-minded angels of the great Brahma held out a golden net to receive the babe, who came forth from her right side like the rising sun bright and perfect.
The Brahma-angels took the child and placing him before the mother said: "Rejoice, O queen, a mighty son has been born unto thee."
At her couch stood an aged woman imploring the heavens to bless the child.
All the worlds were flooded with light.  The blind received their sight by longing to see the coming glory of the Lord; the deaf and dumb spoke with one another of the good omens indicating the birth of the Buddha to be.  The crooked became straight, the lame walked.  All prisoners were freed from their chains and the fires
of all the hells were extinguished.
No clouds gathered in the skies and the polluted streams became clear, whilst celestial music rang through the air and the angels rejoiced with gladness.  With no selfish or partial joy but for the sake of the law they rejoiced, for creation engulfed in the ocean of pain was now to obtain release.
The cries of beasts were hushed; all malevolent beings received a loving heart, and peace reigned on earth.
Mara, the evil one, alone was grieved and rejoiced not.
The Naga kings, earnestly desiring to show their reverence for the most excellent law, as they paid honour to former Buddhas, now went to greet the Bodhisatta.  They scattered before him mandara flowers, rejoicing with heartfelt joy to pay their religious homage.
the royal father, pondering the meaning of these signs, was now full of joy and now sore distressed.

                                      Extracted from 'The Gospel of Buddha' compiled by PaulCarus. 1915