Notes

Gautama Buddha, popularly known as the Buddha or Lord Buddha (also known as Siddhattha gotama or Siddhārtha Gautama or Buddha Shakyamuni), was a Sramaṇa who lived in ancient India (c. 6th to 5th century BCE) or (c. 5th to 4th century BCE). He is regarded as the founder of the world religion of Buddhism, and revered by most Buddhist schools as a savior, the Enlightened One who rediscovered an ancient path to release clinging and craving and escape the cycle of birthThe history of Buddhism is the story of one man's spiritual journey to Enlightenment, and of the teachings and ways of living that developed from it.
Siddhartha Gautama - The Buddha
By finding the path to Enlightenment, Siddhartha was led from the pain of suffering and rebirth towards the path of Enlightenment and became known as the Buddha or 'awakened one'.

Buddha temple statue, Kathmandu, Nepal
A life of luxury
Opinions differ as to the dates of Siddhartha Gautama's life. Historians have dated his birth and death as circa 566-486 BCE but more recent research suggests that he lived later than this, from around 490 BCE until circa 410