Buddha

Lord Gautama – the Buddha was born about 2500 years ago, in Kapilvastu in Nepal and his father was the king. Buddha spent his youth in palaces built especially for him.

Buddha was married at 16, and decided that he wanted to see the world. Buddha’s father ordered that all the sick and old people be removed from the streets, so Buddha would believe that his life in the palace was normal.

It is said that Buddha came upon an old man and was struck with the realization that everyone will become old. He then came upon a sick man and realized that all will eventually succumb to sickness and die – rich or poor. These realizations created a desire in him to attain enlightenment and seek a spiritual path instead of ruling the land.

So, at 29, he left his wife, son, parents and his princely life to become a recluse. He made the decision that he would find the ultimate truth of human life and wandered in search of it.

One day on the night of Vaisakha purnima (full moon night around the month of April-May), he sat in a cross-legged posture below a pipal tree in Bodhgaya and took a vow that he would not get up until he attained enlightenment.

As a result of all his previous good deeds, in the morning of the Vaisakha purnima, Gautama attained the ultimate truth of life; he became "the enlightened one" - the Buddha."

He died in 543 BC at 80 years old.