Birth of Siddhartha

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Time Period
C. 10th Century CE, Pala

Location found
Nalanda, Bihar

Dimension
H: 10.5, W: 24, L: 37 cm

Material
Basalt

Number assigned
Accession No. 8670
Indian Museum, Kolkata, West Bengal

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The Birth of Siddhartha from Nalanda, Bihar, created during the Pala period and carved in basalt, depicts Queen Maya Devi grasping a sal tree branch as the infant Siddhartha Gautama miraculously emerges from her side. Surrounding celestial figures and attendants celebrate the divine birth with gestures of reverence and offering. The sculpture’s graceful lines, elaborate jewelry, and rhythmic composition typify Pala art’s elegance and spiritual expression, blending devotional symbolism with refined craftsmanship to illustrate one of the most sacred moments in Buddhist tradition.

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