Harinaigamesin Brings the Embryo to Queen Trisala: Folio from a Kalpasutra Manuscript

Unknown artist

The jina Mahavira was conceived by a Brahmani woman, and Indra determined that the embryo should be transferred to the royal woman Queen Trisala. He appointed the deerheaded divinity Harinaigamesin, Indra's ambassador and chief of infantry, to perform this delicate task. Embryos were exchanged between the two women, and Mahavira was brought full term and born to King Siddharta and Queen Trisala.