Gautama Buddha,
founder of Buddhism, was born in 563 BC (widely accepted), on the vaisakha
purnima day at Lumbinivana in Kapilvasstu (now situated in the foothills of Nepal)
in the Sakya Kshatriya clan.
His father
Suddhodhana was the republican king of Kapilvastu and mother Mahamaya was a
princess of Kosala dynasty.
After his mother’s
early death, he was brought up by his step mother and Aunt Mahaprajapati Gautami.
His father married
him at an early age to Yasodhara (Princesss of Kolli dynastry ) from whom he
had a son Rahul.
Four sights –an old
man. A diseased person ,a dead body and
an ascetic – proved to be a turning point in his carrier.
At the age of 29,
he renounced home, this was his Magabhinishkramana (great going forth ) and
became a wandering ascetic.
His first teacher
was Alara Kalama (sankhya philosopher ) from whom he learnt the technique of
meditation.
His next teacher
was Udraka Ramputra.