Siddhartha Gautama, was born in Lumbini, in present-day Nepal, around 563 BCE. His father, King Suddhodana, was the ruler of the Shakya clan, and his mother, Queen Maya, died shortly after his birth. Siddhartha was raised in luxury and shielded from the harsh realities of the world. However, his privileged upbringing did not shield him from the inevitable suffering of life. Determined to seek answers to the fundamental questions of human existence, Siddhartha renounced his royal life at the age of 29 and set out on a spiritual journey.

For six years, Siddhartha practiced asceticism and meditation, seeking enlightenment through extreme self-denial. However, he realized that such practices did not lead to the liberation he sought. Resolving to find another path, Siddhartha sat under a pipal tree, known as the Bodhi tree, in Bodh Gaya, India. He vowed not to rise until he had attained enlightenment. It was there, on the full moon night in May, that Siddhartha experienced a profound awakening.

Under the Bodhi tree, Siddhartha confronted the temptations and distractions of Mara, the demon of desire, who sought to prevent him from reaching enlightenment. Despite Mara's attempts to sway him from his path, Siddhartha remained steadfast in his meditation. Finally, as the first light of dawn broke through the darkness, Siddhartha attained enlightenment and became the Buddha, the Awakened One.

Following his enlightenment, the Buddha spent the remaining 45 years of his life traveling across northern India, teaching the path to liberation from suffering. His teachings, known as the Dharma, emphasized the Four Noble Truths—the reality of suffering, its cause, its cessation, and the path to its cessation. The Buddha's compassionate teachings attracted disciples from all walks of life, and his community, known as the Sangha, grew rapidly.At the age of 80, the Buddha passed away in Kushinagar, India, surrounded by his disciples. His final words to his followers were to strive diligently, with mindfulness and wisdom, to attain liberation. 

Though his physical form was no more, the Buddha's teachings continue to inspire millions around the world, guiding them on the path to inner peace and enlightenment.