25/05/2017
Gautama Buddha
A statue of the Buddha from Sarnath, 4th century CE
Religion Buddhism
Known for Founder of Buddhism
Other names Siddhartha Gautama, Shakyamuni
Personal
Born c. 563 BCE or c. 480 BCE[1][2]
Lumbini, Shakya Republic (according to Buddhist tradition)[note 1]
Died c. 483 BCE or c. 400 BCE (aged 80)
Kushinagar, Malla Republic (according to Buddhist tradition)[note 2]
Parents
Śuddhodana (father)
Maya Devi (mother)
Senior posting
Predecessor Kassapa Buddha
Successor Maitreya
Gautama Buddha (c. 563 BCE/480 BCE – c. 483 BCE/400 BCE), also known as Siddhārtha Gautama [sid̪ːʱɑːrt̪ʰə gəut̪əmə], Śhakyamuni Buddha [ɕɑːkjəmun̪i bud̪ːʱə],[4] or simply the Buddha, after the title of Buddha, was an ascetic (śramaṇa) and sage,[4] on whose teachings Buddhism was founded.[5] He is believed to have lived and taught mostly in the eastern part of ancient India sometime between the sixth and fourth centuries BCE.[6][note 3]
Gautama taught a Middle Way between sensual indulgence and the severe asceticism found in the śramaṇa movement[7] common in his region. He later taught throughout other regions of eastern India such as Magadha and Kosala.[6][8]
Gautama is the primary figure in Buddhism. He is recognized by Buddhists as an enlightened teacher who attained full Buddhahood, and shared his insights to help sentient beings end rebirth and suffering. Accounts of his life, discourses, and monastic rules are believed by Buddhists to have been summarized after his death and memorized by his followers. Various collections of teachings attributed to him were passed down by oral tradition and first committed to writing about 400 years later.