Siddhartha

Siddhartha Gautama, also known as Gotama or Shakyamuni, is traditionally regarded as the founder of Buddhism. He is believed to have been born in Lumbini, in present-day Nepal, to the Shakya clan in the 5th century BCE. Raised as a prince by King Suddhodana and Queen Maya, he lived a sheltered life of luxury until he left the palace in search of greater meaning after encounters with aging, illness, and death, and later a holy man.

After years of ascetic practices, Siddhartha adopted a middle way between indulgence and severe self-denial. He attained awakening while meditating under the Bodhi Tree at Bodh Gaya, thus earning the title Buddha, the Awakened One. He spent the rest of his life teaching others how to end suffering through ethical conduct, mental discipline, and wisdom. Central to his message are the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, which outline the nature of suffering, its causes, its cessation, and the path to its cessation. He established a monastic community and guided both lay followers and monastics.

The Buddha’s teachings were recorded in various canons, most notably the Pali Canon in Theravada Buddhism and numerous sutras in Mahayana traditions. Core concepts include impermanence, non-self, and dependent origination, along with practices such as meditation and ethical living. Details of his life and dates vary among traditions; conventional dating places his life in the 6th to 4th centuries BCE.

Siddhartha is venerated as Shakyamuni or Gotama Buddha across Asia and in contemporary Buddhist communities. His life and teachings have influenced philosophy, ethics, and contemplative practices well beyond religious contexts.