Over 2500 Years ago, near the border between India and Nepal, a child was born to a Royal family. He was to become the "Buddha," meaning the awakened one. Lord Buddha is honored throughout the world as one of the greatest religious figures and spiritual teachers. He is also known as Shakyamuni, Gautama and Thatagatha. Lord Buddha was not a god, and never claimed to be a god or a divine entity. He was a human being who achieved enlightenment through tremendous effort and hardship, and revealed The Four Noble Truths to the world, so that others, too, may achieve enlightenment. After achieving the Buddhahood he travelled all over India, teaching his philosophy and guiding countless beings on the path to enlightenment. At the age of eighty he reached Parinirvana, the ultimate extinction meaning, ending the cycle of death and rebirth. After many struggles, through personal resolve and meditation, a human man was able to reach nirvana and teach others the path to ending suffering and pain in the world.
Lord Buddha, before he attained enlightenment, was known as Prince Siddhartha Gauthama. He was born to the Shakya clan, a royal family in Kapilavastu. Kapilavastu was a small kingdom located near the border of present-day Nepal, and was one of the sixteen states of India at the time. The Birth place of The Buddha was Lumbini grove, which later became one of the sacred places visited by millions of devotees. His mother, Queen Maya, gave birth to baby Siddhartha who had extraordinary physical characteristics and a golden complexion. It is said that his birth was miraculous, since immediately after his birth he stood on his feet and took seven steps north, and seven lotus flowers bloomed where he placed his feet on the ground. He then uttered, "I am chief of the world. Eldest am I in the world. Foremost am I in the world. This is my last birth. There is now no more coming to be" (dhahampasala.
