Gautama Buddha was born in 563 b.c. in northeast India. The Buddha was the son of the King of the Sakyas. Suddhodana, who ruled at Kapilavastu, on the border of Nepal. His mother was Queen Maya. He was named Siddhartha. Here the Buddha is depicted in meditation position sheltered by a Naga, it's body coiled up to serve as a cushion for the Buddha and it's 7 pronged head spreading over the Buddha's head as a cover. The Naga is a snakelike animal of Hindu lore. According to legend, the Naga once tried to harm the Buddha but was subdued and became one of the Buddha's disciples and guardians.