About
Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha or Shakyamuni, is the founder of Buddhism. Born in Lumbini (present-day Nepal) into the Shakya clan, he is traditionally dated to 563–483 BCE, but modern scholarship suggests a later date, around 411–400 BCE. After renouncing his princely life, he attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya and taught across the Gangetic plain. His core teachings include the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, with key doctrines such as suffering (dukkha), impermanence (anicca), and no-self (anattā). The earliest biographical texts were composed centuries after his death as hagiographical tools, and he left no written works.
Key milestones
- c. 563–483 BCETraditional chronology of Siddhartha Gautama's life.
- c. 6th century BCEThe earliest surviving Buddhist shrine, the Maya Devi Temple in Lumbini, is archaeologically dated to this period.
- c. 411–400 BCEModern Indological scholarship places his death between these dates.
Themes
Suffering (dukkha)Impermanence (anicca)No-self (anattā)Four Noble TruthsEightfold Path
Sources: cambridge.org · britannica.com · worldhistory.org