Gautam Buddha, born as Siddhartha Gautama, was a great spiritual teacher and founder of Buddhism. He was born in Lumbini and belonged to the Shakya clan. Despite living a royal life, he was deeply moved by the realities of suffering, sickness, old age, and death, which led him to renounce worldly life in search of truth. After years of meditation and austerity, he attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya and became known as the “Buddha,” meaning the enlightened one. He identified desire (tanha) as the root cause of suffering and taught the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path as the way to liberation. His teachings emphasize compassion, non-violence, and the middle path. He never used weapons and advocated kindness toward all living beings. Even today, his philosophy inspires millions around the world toward peace, mindfulness, and moral living.