Four modes of birth

 
four modes of birth (四生). Sentient beings are born through

(1) the womb, such as humans and other mammals;
(2) the egg, such as birds and reptiles;
(3) moisture, such as fishes and insects;
(4) miraculous formation, such as Gods, Ghosts, and Hell-dwellers.

Source

www.sutrasmantras.info

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The four modes of birth (Wyl. skye gnas bzhi) — according to tantric theory, all forms of birth fall into one of four categories:

1. womb birth (for humans and certain classes of animals and pretas);

1. egg birth (for certain animals);

1. spontaneous generation from warmth and moisture or heat-moisture birth (for certain “inferior” types of animals), and

1. miraculous birth or manifestation (for all gods, hell beings, and beings in the intermediate state, as well as certain classes of preta

and humans such as bodhisattva emanations).

Source

RigpaWiki:Four modes of birth