Sakiem

Sakiem, or Queen Maya in the Sanskrit version, is the Buddha's mother. This beautiful bronze statue is Nepalese in origin, of unknown date. Tradition holds that Sakiem was walking in a forest, close to giving birth and feeling labour pains, when she felt the need to hold onto a tree for support. The leaves and petals of the tree represent "jewels of wish fulfillment" for all beings. The gems and precious stones symbolize the possibility of enlightenment for those caught in the web of suffering and darkness.