Gautama was born as Siddhartha in the Kshatria caste of the Shakya clan in 566 B.C. in Kalpataru (now Lumbini in present day Nepal). Popular legends
represent him as the son of a great king, brought up amidst the luxuries of a palace. As he grew into manhood, Siddhartha was caught by the sufferings of the
world (old age, disease and death being important of them), left his riches to become an ascetic and sought higher truth. After years of study, meditation and
sacrifice, he is known to have found the Nirvana (cure to ills of the world) and became the Buddha or the completely enlightened one.