The founder
of Buddhism, Gautama alias Siddhartha was born at Lumbini near the border of
Nepal in about 563 B.C. Buddha was contemporary of Mahavira. Gautama’s father
seems to have been the elected ruler of Kapilavastu, and headed the republican
clan of the Shakyas. His mother was princess from the Kosalan dynasty. He was
deeply depressed by all forms of human misery and yearned for freedom. From his
early childhood Gautama showed a meditative bent of mind. He was married early, but married
life didn’t interest him. He was moved by the misery which people suffered in
the world, and looked for solution. At the age of 29, like Mahavira, he left
home. He kept wandering for about seven years and then attained knowledge at
the age of 35 at Bodh Gaya under a pipal
tree. From this time onwards he began to be called the Buddha or the enlightened.
Gautama Buddha delivered his first
sermons at Sarnath in Banaras. He undertook long journeys and took his message
far and wide. He had a very strong physique which enabled him to walk 20 to 30
km a day. He preached most of his sermonds at Sravasti. Gautama Buddha passed
away at the age of 80 in 483 B.C. at a place called Kushinagar.
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