Legend and History

A Critical Study of Siddhārtha Gautama’s Birth and Associated Events

Abstract

Abstract

This research paper presents a comparative study from both literary and historical perspectives of the various events surrounding the birth of Siddhārtha Gautama (the Buddha), drawing upon Pāli, Sanskrit, Chinese, and other available Buddhist sources. The primary objective of the research is to critically examine the historicity of the Buddha's birth in Lumbinī and the associated events. In this context, by comparing the birth narratives found across various Buddhist traditions, the study seeks to distinguish between elements belonging to the early tradition and those that evolved in later periods. The study will be grounded in both Buddhist texts and archaeological evidence, specifically the epigraphic and archaeological findings from Lumbinī. The research will also analyse events associated with the Buddha's birth that have been imbued with a supernatural or miraculous character within Buddhist tradition. For instance, a critical review will be conducted of elements such as the mention of a specific tree at the time of birth, the newborn Siddhārtha’s seven steps, his extraordinary proclamation, the concept of Satta-sahajāta (the simultaneous birth of seven others alongside Siddhārtha), and the death of his mother. It will also examine the forms in which these accounts appear in early Buddhist literature and how they underwent transformation and expansion over time. Furthermore, the research paper will attempt to elucidate how various Buddhist sects and literary traditions portrayed the birth narrative in the process of establishing the Buddha's greatness and supernatural nature. Thus, this research will present a comprehensive analysis of the historical, religious, and literary dimensions of the narratives surrounding the Buddha's birth, and will attempt to determine which elements are supported by historical evidence and which have evolved as a result of later literary and religious imagination. This study will not only enrich the historical understanding of the Buddha's life but also make a significant contribution to the study of Buddhist literature, the tradition of Buddhist thought, and its gradual evolution.