REP buddha's birth

the 5 key parts

queen maya’s dream (white elephant)

the birth

the seven steps

the prophet

the bodhi tree

queen mayas dream

she dreamed of a white elephant which represents purity, greatness and wisdom. It symbolises that her child would be special and spiritually pure.

the birth

maya gave birth under the bodhi tree which offered its branch to maya to give birth. The tree represents that nature was supporting his birth, showing his connection with living things

the seven steps

as soon as buddha was born he took seven steps and after each step a lotus flower grew from the ground showing purity and enlightenment. The steps also link to the eightfold path as the seven steps lead to the eighth which is enlightment

the prophet

a wise man visited the baby and he predicted that buddha would become a great king or a holy man. This shows that his destiny was recognised from birth

the bodhi tree

the tree is where buddha was born and where he reached enlightenment representing wisdom, growth and awakening