Rise of Heterodox Sects : Buddhism
Buddhism Gautama Buddha : Gautama Buddha or Siddhartha was a contemporary of Mahavira. He was born in 563 BC in a Shakya (Kshatriya) family in Lumbini near Kapilvastu , which is situated on the foothills of Nepal. Gautama's father (Shudhodana) seems to have been the elected ruler of Kapilavastu, and headed the republican clan of the Shakyas. His mother (Mahamaya) was a princess from the Kosalan dynasty. From his early childhood, Gautama showed a meditative bent of mind. Alara Kama was his teacher of meditation. His charioteer was Channa , while his horse's name was Kanthaks . He was married early, but married life did not interest him. At the age of 29, he left home. He kept on, wandering for about seven years and then attained knowledge at the age of 35 at Both Gaya under a pipal tree. From this time onwards, he began to be called the Buddha or The Enlightened. Gautama Buddha delivered his first sermons at Sarnath in Benaras. Gautama Buddha pass