Shakyamuni Buddha, also known as Siddhartha Gautama, is the historical founder of Buddhism. Born in the 6th century BCE in Lumbini, Nepal, he was a prince who renounced his royal life to seek enlightenment. After years of ascetic practice and meditation, he attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, India, and became known as the Buddha, meaning “The Awakened One.”
Shakyamuni Buddha spent the rest of his life teaching the path to enlightenment, which includes the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. His teachings emphasize the impermanence of life, the causes of suffering, and the way to achieve liberation from the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.
Shakyamuni Buddha is often depicted in art and iconography seated in meditation, with specific hand gestures (mudras) symbolizing various aspects of his teachings and life events. His image is a central figure in Buddhist temples and thangkas, serving as an inspiration for practitioners seeking to follow his path to enlightenment.
