Homonym: Gautama (Buddha)
Gautama, also known as Siddhartha Gautama, was a spiritual teacher and the founder of Buddhism. He lived in ancient India around the 5th to 4th century BCE. Born into a royal family, he renounced his privileged life in search of enlightenment and understanding of suffering. After years of meditation and ascetic practices, he attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya.
Following his enlightenment, Gautama became known as the Buddha, meaning "the Awakened One." He spent the rest of his life teaching others about the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, which outline the way to overcome suffering and achieve spiritual liberation. His teachings laid the foundation for the Buddhist tradition.