Part 7.2 - Notes regarding the Various Births of Bodhisattva

Catasso kho imā Sāriputta, yonijā–katamā catasso? Aṇḍajā yoni, Jalābujā yoni, Saṃsedajā yoni, Oppātikā yoni (Mahāsīhanāda sutta, Majjhimanikāya. 

Sāriputta, are the species of existence according to the mode of birth. That is Egg-born existence, Womb-born existence, Moisture-born existence, Existence due to supernatural appearing.—(cf. Gautam Buddher Dharma O Darśan, Sukamal Chaudhury, p. 176.)

In the Jātaka stories the Bodhisattva takes various births among the animals; such as he is born as a—

Buffalo (Mahisa Jātaka);
Bull (Ayyakālaka, Sārambha, Mahālohita, Nandivisāla Jātaka);
Dog (Kukkura Jātaka);
Rat (Aggika, Biḷāra Jātaka);
Elephant (Chaddanta, Sīlava Jātaka);
Horse (as Vātaggasindhav, Āañña, Bhogājānīya Jātaka);
Iguna (Godha Jātaka);
Deer (Kuruṅga Miga, Naggodha Miga, Suvaṇṇa Miga, Ruru Jātaka);
Jackle (Sigāla, Guna Jātaka);
Pig (Mahātuṇḍila, Khullatuṇḍila Jātaka);
Monkey (Kapi, Mahākapi, Nalāpana, Saṃsumāra, Vāṇarenda Jātaka);
Lion (Sigāla, Jambuka, Sūkara Jātaka);
Hare (Sasa Jātaka);
Snake (Champeyya, Saṅkhapāla, Bhuridatta, Mahābhaddara Jātaka);
Frog (Haritimāta Jātaka);
Rooster or Cock (Kukkuṭa Jātaka);
Crow (Vīraka, Kāka Jātaka);
Parrot (Rādha, Poṭṭhapāda, Kālbāhu, Pupphaka, Jambuka Jātaka);
Wild Duck (Naccha Jātaka);
Peacock (Mahāmora, Bāveru Jātaka);
Garuda or Eagle (Sussoṇḍhi Jātaka);
Goose (Neru, Cakkavāka, Palāsa, Ulūka Jātaka);
Pigeon (Kapota, Romaka, Kāka Jātaka);
Quail (Vaṭṭaka, Sammodamana Jātaka);
Vulture (Gijjha Jātakas);
Wood-pecker (Javasakuna, Khadiravaniya Jātaka).

Among the Human being such as an—

Acrobat (Dubbaccha Jātaka);
Ascetic (Various births);
Non-Buddhist ascetic (Lomahaṃsa Jātaka);
Barber (Illīsa Jātaka);
Caravan leader (Samuddavāṇija Jātaka);
Conch-blower (Saṅkhadhamana Jātaka);
Chaplain(numerous births);
Councillor (Kacchapa, Kalāyamuṭṭhi, Vālodaka Jātaka);
Courtier (Bāhayi, Sālittaka Jātaka);
Dice player (Litta Jātaka);
Drummer (Bherivāda Jātaka);
Elephant trainer (Saṅgāmāvachara Jātaka);
Farmer (Suvaṇṇa-kakkata, Sīhacamma Jātaka);
Forester (Khurappa Jātaka);
Gardener (Kuddālaka Jātaka);
Goldsmith (Kunāla Jātaka);
Hawker (Serivāṇija Jātaka);
Tumbler (Ucchiṭṭhabhatta Jātaka);
Horse dealer (Kuṇḍakakucchisindhava Jātaka);
House-holder (Gahapati, Jagara Jātaka);
Judge (Kutavāṇija Jātaka);
Mariner (Suppāraka Jātaka);
Minister (Vidhurapaṇḍita, Kacchpa Jātaka);
Musician (Guṭṭila Jātaka);
Physician (Kāma, Visavanta Jātaka);
Potter (Kacchapa, Kumbhakāra Jātaka);
Robber (Kaṇavera, Sotapatta Jātaka);
Smith (Sūci Jātaka);
Stone cutter (Babbu Jātaka);
Teacher (Anabhirati, Durājana, Losaka Jātaka);
Treasure (Cullaka, Saṅkha Jātaka);
Valuer (Taṇḍulnāli Jātaka);
King (Vessantara, Makhādeva, Brahmadatta and various births);
Caṇḍāla (Citta, Mātaṅga Jātaka).

He also born as the semi human beings or lord of the heavenly world; such as—

Sakka or Indra (Kāmanīta, Mahāpanāda, Keḷisīla, Vaka Jātaka);
Deva (Kakkāru, Kāmavilāpa, Mittavinda, Bhaddasāla Jātaka);
Brahmā (Candābha, Janasodhana Jātaka);
Mahā Brahmā (Parosahassa, Mahānārada, Kassapa Jātaka);
Air sprite (Puppharatta Jātaka);
Mountain sprite (Kāka, Samudda Jātaka);
Tree sprite (Kusanāli, Ayācitabvhatta, Vaka Jātaka);
Forest sprite (Kaṇḍina, Gūthapāṇa Jātaka) etc. 

(Vide Ishan Chandra Ghose’s Jātaka—Bengali translation)

In short Among 547 or 550 Jātaka stories, Buddha was born as Bodhisattva—

85 times as a king,
83 times as an ascetics,
26 times as a preacher,
24 times as a minister,
24 times as a priest,
24 times as a prince,
24 times as heir apparent,
23 times as a gentleman,
22 times as a scholar,
13 times as a merchant,
12 times as a rich man,
43 time as tree god,
20 times as Indra,
4 time as Brahmā,
3 times as a potter,
3 times as an untouchable,
2 times as a thief,
2 times as an elephant rider,
1 times as a carpenter,
1 times as an ironsmith,
2 times as a rat,
18 times as a monkey,
11 times as a deer,
10 times as a lion,
6 times as an elephant,
3 times as an ass,
5 times as a Garūḍa,
4 times as a horse,
2 times as a swain,
8 times as a goose,
12 times as a hen,
2 times as a crow,
4 times as a peacock,
2 times as a wood pecker,
4 times as snake,
4 times as a tree,,
2 times as a fish,
1 times as a frog,
1 times as a hare etc.