LORD BUDDHA

 LORD BUDDHA

        Buddha or Siddartha Gauthama, born  c. 6th–4th century  Lumbini, near Kapilavastu, Shakya republic, Kosala kingdom [now in Nepal]. He is the founder of Buddhism, one of the major religions and philosophical systems of southern and eastern Asia and of the world.

His followers, known as Buddhists, propagated the religion that is known today as Buddhism. The title buddha was used by several religious groups in ancient India and had a range of meanings, but it came to be associated most strongly with the tradition of Buddhism and to mean an enlightened being, one who has awakened from the sleep of ignorance and achieved freedom from suffering. All forms of Buddhism celebrate various events in the life of the Buddha Gautama, including his birth, enlightenment, and passage into nirvana.

06. In some countries the three events are observed on the same day, which is called Wesak in south Asian countries including in Srilanka. In Buddhist texts, he is most commonly addressed as Bhagavat (often translated as “Lord”), and he refers to himself as the Tathagata, which can mean either “one who has thus come” or “one who has thus gone.”  The events of his life outlined in these texts cannot be regarded with confidence as historical, although his historical existence is accepted by scholars. He is said to have lived for 80 years, but there is considerable uncertainty concerning the date of his death. Traditional sources on the date of his death or, in the language of the tradition, “passage into nirvana,” range from 2420 BCE to 290 BCE. However, it must be acknowledged it is the greatest religion in the world.