Venerable Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche tells us, “While the Buddha was teaching in Tushita, the aspiration he once made to take birth in our world and teach the Dharma when it was needed resounded within him. He then considered five things: the land where he ought to be born (Kapilavastu), the caste he should be born into (royal), the family in which he should be born (the Shakya clan), who his mother was to be (Mayadevi), and the time that was right for him to be born (when the five degenerations were on the increase). Having made the determination, he left Tushita and took birth in our world.”1
Lord Buddha is quoted as having likened his very close disciple Maha Shariputra to one who brings forth and Maha Maudgalputra to one who is like a nurse, statements that inspire us to venerate Mahaprajapati Gautami, who reared Siddhartha Gautama when her sister Queen Mayadevi had died seven days after she gave birth to the One who manifested his serene aspiration and became the Fourth Buddha in this Fortunate Age.