Gautam Buddha was the founder of Buddhism, one of the major religions to emerge in ancient India in the 6th century BCE. His teachings spread across Asia and form an important part of ancient Indian history for exams.
Life of Buddha
He was born as Siddhartha Gautama in 563 BCE at Lumbini (in present-day Nepal). His father was Suddhodana, chief of the Shakya clan, and his mother was Mayadevi. He attained enlightenment under a peepal tree at Bodh Gaya and became the Buddha (the enlightened one). He gave his first sermon at Sarnath, called the Dharmachakra Pravartana.
Key Events
- Mahabhinishkramana – the Great Departure from home.
- Nirvana / Enlightenment – at Bodh Gaya.
- Dharmachakra Pravartana – first sermon at Sarnath.
- Mahaparinirvana – death at Kushinagar in 483 BCE.
Teachings
Buddha taught the Four Noble Truths: there is suffering, suffering has a cause, suffering can be ended, and there is a path to end it. He gave the Eightfold Path (Ashtangika Marga) as the middle way to end suffering. He emphasised non-violence and avoiding extremes.
Buddhist Councils and Spread
Four major Buddhist Councils were held. The Third Council was held under Ashoka at Pataliputra, and the Fourth under Kanishka in Kashmir, where Buddhism split into Hinayana and Mahayana. The sacred texts are the Tripitakas, written in Pali.
Quick Revision Points
- Buddha born at Lumbini in 563 BCE.
- Attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya.
- First sermon at Sarnath; death at Kushinagar.
- Taught the Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path.
- Buddhist texts: Tripitakas in Pali.
- Fourth Council under Kanishka; split into Hinayana and Mahayana.
- The symbols include the peepal tree and the wheel.