A popular depiction of Maya, this brass murti shows her standing in the Lumbini groove where she is said to have birthed Siddhartha. A Sal tree, usually shown as her support is missing from the scene. Instead, Maya’s raised hand is in the Shuni Mudra, a gesture of patience, hinting at the labour pains she is facing and her unshakable endurance. As the protectress and provider of children, Maya is always seen as a youthful maiden, with exquisite features and godly ornamentation. Her crown, jewellery, and the patterns of her dress clearly tell the place of the origin of her imagery- Tibet. Maha Maya with her left hand, forms the Vitarka mudra, a gesture that symbolizes enlightenment, discussion, and the spread of Buddhist knowledge. The heavenly brass idol of Maya stands on an upturned lotus flower pedestal.
