1. Members of the Shakya clan dwelt along the Rohini River which flowed among the southern foothills of the Himalayas. Their king Suddhodana Gautama had shifted his capital to Kapila and built a grand castle there and ruled wisely, winning the joyful acclamations of his people. The queen's name was Maya. She was the daughter of the king's uncle who was also king of the neighboring division of the same Shakya clan. For twenty years they had no children, then, after having a strange dream where an elephant entered her side, Queen Maya became pregnant. The king and the people awaited with joyful expectation the birth of a royal child. According to their custom, the queen returned home for childbirth and, on the way, under the beautiful spring sun, she rested in the flower garden of Lumbini Park. All around her were Asoka flowers and, delighted, she stretched out her right arm to pluck a branch and the prince was born. All expressed their sincere joy and celebrated the glory of the queen and her princely child; even Heaven and Earth showed their joy. This memorable day was the eighth day of the month of April. The king's joy was extreme when he named the child: Siddhartha, which means "Every wish fulfilled".2. In the king's palace, however, joy was quickly followed by sorrow, for after a few days the beautiful Queen Maya died suddenly. Fortunately, his younger sister, Prajapati, became the child's adoptive mother and lovingly raised him. A hermit, who lived in the mountains not far away, noticing a glory around the castle and interpreting it as a good omen, came down to the palace. and they showed him the child.