Sakyamuni Buddha was born in the Kingdom of Kapilvastu in the foothills of the Himalayas which encompassed an area that is today part of both areas in Northern India and Nepal. The term "Buddha", means "awakened one" or "the enlightened one" and signifies one who has eyes have been fully opened to the true reality of all life. "Sakyamuni" signifies "Sage of the Sakyas."

Since written records were not kept during his lifetime, it is not fully certain when he was actually born or died. Traditionally, Buddhism has placed him as having lived nearly 3000 years ago. However, most early 20th-century historians date his lifetime as having been from 563 BCE to 483 BCE. According to Mahayana tradition, he is regarded as being born on 8^th April 1029 BCE and having died on 15^th February 949 BCE. In the Theravada tradition, however, his birth is celebrated during Vesak Day (which occurs in either May or June, according to the lunar calendar).
 

Birth
Sakyamuni Buddha was born a prince into a royal family within the Sakya clan in the Kingdom of Kapilvastu. His father was King Shuddhodana and his mother Queen Maha Maya. His family name was Gautama and his first name Siddhartha. He was born in Lumbini (which is modern day Nepal).

Soon after his birth, a hermit sage and holy man visited the newborn child and told the King that his son would grow up to become either a great and noble king or a great holy and enlightened man. This was then reiterated by Eight Brahman scholars and priests during the baby's naming ceremony who all confirmed the dual prediction to the King.

Early years
Soon after the birth of Siddhartha, Queen Maya, his mother died. He was raised by his aunt, his mother's younger sister, Mahapajapati. King Shuddhodana, wishing that his son become a great king and not a religious man, provided Siddhartha with everything he could want or need, shielding him from any form of religious teachings and knowledge of human suffering. Thus, Siddhartha Gautama was not familiar with the dominant religious teachings and schools of his time until he left on his religious quest, which is said to have been one of his motivations behind his concern regarding the conditions of human life and suffering.

At age 16, his father arranged his marriage to a cousin of the same age named Yashodhara, who was reported to be a woman of excelled beauty. They gave birth to a son, named Rahula.

The Great Departure
Siddhartha remained in the palace with his wife and son until the age of 29. However, with time, he began to feel that material wealth and royal heritage were not his life's ultimate goals. One day, he decided to see the world outside the palace and meet with his subjects. According to tradition, the palace was said to have possessed four gates, and four occasions the prince, accompanied by his charioteer, Channa, ventured outside, each time through a different gate.

On one such occasion, Siddhartha happened upon an old man. Totally unaccumstomed to seeing the aged, he asked Channa what had happened to this man. Channa explained that all people grew old, as would someday happen to himself and even the prince too. This surprised the young prince. This first venture outside of the palace, thus wet Siddhartha's appetite to know more of the outside world. On a further three excursions, Siddhartha encountered a man who had fallen severely ill, a corpse and a religious monk. In stark contrast to his life in the palace, these experiences caused him to start thinking deeply about the meaning of these various conditions and their relationship to all of life. With time, Siddhartha realised that he needed to abandon palace life and dedicate himself to philosphical and religious study in order to find solutions to the great suffering he had witnessed.
Once again acccompanied by Channa, Siddhartha quietly left his palace, this time for the last time, as he renounced his royal heritage and began the life of a religious mendicant. It's said that, even "the horse's hooves were muffled by the gods" to prevent guards from knowing of the prince's departure. This event is traditionally known as "the Great Departure".

Years of Study and Preparation
Siddhartha Gautama began his religious studies and practice, under two renowned hermit Masters. He soon mastered meditative consciousness and their all the teachings, surpassing even the masters themselves. Together with a group of five other companions, he continued his pursuit of religious study and began ascetic practices, including extreme fasting. This lasted for six years.

One day, due to physical exhaustion from extreme fasting, he collapsed in a river while bathing and almost drowned. This incident caused Siddhartha to reconsider his path. He then remembered a moment in childhood when he had watched his father start the season's plowing. He remembered while watching intently, he attained a concentrated and focused state that was blissful and refreshing. So he sat himself under a pipal tree where he began to meditate, vowing not to stop until he had attained enlightenment and found the truth.

Meditation
During this initial period of meditation, Siddhartha discovered the Middle Way, a balanced way of life, free from extremes. He continued on in his meditation. Then, after a period of 49 days, at the age of 35, he attained enlightenment. At the time of his awakening he realized complete insight into the cause of suffering, and the steps necessary to eliminate it. The actual date of his achieving Buddhahood is not formally known. Again here, the traditions of Buddhism embrace two different dates. According to the Theravada tradition, it is said he attained enlightenment during the fifth month, whereas the Mahayana tradition of China, Korea and Japan hold that it was on 8^th December.

Regardless of the date, it is from this time that his followers ceased to call him by his secular name and began instead to refer to him as the Buddha, "the Enlightened One" or "the Awakened One."

At the time of his awakening he realized complete insight into the cause of suffering, and the steps necessary to eliminate it. The discoveries he made into these prilimary causes he called "The Four Noble Truths". This teaching if the very foundation of Buddhism and all its teachings which are at the heart of all Buddhist doctrine. Through mastery of these truths, a state of supreme liberation from all suffering become possible.

The Dharma Wheel Begins to Turn
While desiring to share his findings with all mankind so that they too could benefit from his enlightenment, he was at the same time concerned that people were so overpowered with ignorance, greed and hatred that they might not be able to understand or appreciate his teachings. He realised his enlightenment was at times subtle, profound and very difficult to understand. Nonethelsss, he decided to teach others of what he had discovered, deciding to begin the five mendicants with whom he had first studied and practiced together.

He travelled to Deer Park near Varanasi (Benares) in northern India, and began delivering his first sermon to these five companions. They accepted his teachings and together with him, formed the first Sangha, or community of Buddhist monks. The Sangha grew with many new converts, soon numering into the 1000s. The community grew to later include nuns, and many lay believers and followers.

For the remaining 45 years of his life, the Buddha traveled all over northern India, in what is now Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and southern Nepal, teaching a diverse range of people: from kings and other nobles to merchants, religious leaders, soldiers, common people, outcastes, street sweepers, murderers and cannibals. From the outset, Buddhism was equally open to all races and classes, men and women, and void of any sort of caste structure. He taught all the people in a systematic manner, instructing them in such a manner that any person could clearly comprehend the teachings and grow in understanding.

The Final Years
In the final eight years of his life, after having revealed a large array and variety of doctrines, and seeing that the capacity and understanding of the people had grown considerably, the Buddha began to reveal the heart of his enlightenment. These teachings were later compiled and recorded into what is now called the Lotus Sutra.

At the age of 80, he began speaking of his imminent death while bring bringing 45 years of teaching the Dharma to a close. These teachings were compiled into what is the Nirvana Sutra.

In the final moments of his life, the Buddha asked all the attending monks if they had any questions and or a need to clarify any remaining doubt. They replied that they had none. The Buddha's final words were: "All composite things pass away. Strive for your own liberation with diligence."
 

The Buddha then peacefully closed his eyes and entered into Parinirvana. According to Mahayana tradition, these final moments were on 15^th February. His body was cremated and his relics were placed in stupas.