[Solved] Which clan did Buddha's mother belong to? | Koliyan Clan

Gautam Buddha's Mother was from which clan?

[U.P.P.C.S. Prelims 2008]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

Concept

The Buddha's family connections linked several prominent republics of the 6th century BCE.

Authentic Source Evidence

Buddhist chronicles state that Queen Maya (Mahamaya), the mother of Prince Siddhartha, was a princess from the Koliyan republic of Devadaha.

Analytical Breakdown

Koliyan Clan (D): This was the maternal clan of the Buddha.

Shakya Clan (A): This was the paternal clan (his father Suddhodana was a Shakya).

Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

"Where was Queen Maya traveling when the Buddha was born?"

She was traveling from the Shakya capital, Kapilavastu, to her natal home in Devadaha (Koliyan territory) when she gave birth in Lumbini.

Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

"The marriage between the Shakyas and Koliyans was common, though they were often in conflict over shared water resources like the Rohini river."

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