2. THE DREAM OF MAHAMAYA WHEN SHE CONCEIVED THE FUTURE BUDDHA

Siddhartha's father was Prince Suddhodana of the Kingdom of the Sakyas on today's India-Nepal borders at the southern foot of the Himalayas. When his father was 29, he was married to Princess Mahamaya.

On a full-moon night in the palace in the capital, Kapilavatthu, Mahamaya had a dream. In the dream, she felt she was carried away by the angels to Lake Anotatta in the Himalayas. After bathing her in the lake, the angels clothed her in Heavenly clothes. Then a beautiful white elephant went around her three times, and finally disappeared by entering her womb.