The earlier Buddhist
scriptures say that the historical Buddha was born to the warrior-caste Gautama family of the Sakya clan in the state of Kosala. Gautama, meaning "most excellent cow," should be understood in the con text of cow veneration that was a custom in Indian culture. Sakya means
"one who has achieved his goal." In early texts, Gautama's father is named Suddhodana, meaning "pure rice." This seems appropriate since the Sakya clan resided between the Ganges plains and the foothills of the Himalayas, a region in which rice is cultivated. Suddhodana is referred to in
The Life of Gautama Buddha the earlier texts as one of the council of rulers of the Sakya clan and leader the town of Kapilavastu where the family lived. Later biographies of the Buddha claim that Suddhodana was texts report that Gautama's mother, Maya, was in the garden of Lumbini Kapilavastu when she gave birth to her son. Buddhists the birth of Siddhartha Gautama on the full of which is the fourth month of the Indian calendar An early text record a prophecy named at the time of Gautama's birth Holding the bull child of the Sakya tribe, he examined him, and with joy in his mind raised his voice saying, This is the supreme foremost amo This prince reach the heights of true Awakening: he will see the ut most purity and benefit many because of his compassion turn the wheel of the ITeachingl and his pure actions will be widely (Sutta mipata, 679-700) Later biographies relate the tragic story that seven days after giving birth to
Gautama, Maya died. In this account, Suddhodana later married Maya younger sister, whose name was said to be Mahaprajapati. Mahaprajapati is also said in this story to have raised Gautama along with his half-brother Nanda