Articles

A dohada-motif in ancient legends of the Buddha

Vostok/Oriens '2017, №5

DOI: 10.7868/S0869190817050065

 
This article traces the evolution of the dohada-motif in ancient biographies of Buddha. These biographies are known in different languages. Besides, I tried to reveal the main features and functions of this motif in the legend. Among the variety of dohadas mentioned in the lives of the Buddha, I focus on the desire of a pregnant woman to take a walk in the woods: in many texts such a desire of Maya explains an unusual place of birth of the Bodhisattva.

Keywords: Buddha, Buddhist literature, Buddhist hagiography, Maya, dohada, Buddha’s birth

Pages: С. 72–84