Siddhartha Gautama

Definition

by Cristian Violatti
published on 09 December 2013

Siddhartha Gautama (also known as the Buddha “the awakened one”) was the leader
and founder of a sect of wanderer ascetics (Sramanas), one of many sects which existed
at that time all over India. This sect came to be known as Sangha, to distinguish it from
other similar communities. The teachings of Siddhartha Gautama are considered the
core of Buddhism: after his death, the community he founded slowly evolved into a
religious-like movement which was finally established as a state religion in India by the
time of Emperor Ashoka, during the 3rd century BCE.

Siddhartha is a Sanskrit personal name which means "He Who Achieves His Goal". The
name is best known in English as the title of the novel by Hermann Hesse, in which the
main character (who actually is not the Buddha) is named Siddhartha. The Sanskrit
family name Gautama means "descendants of Gotama". Gotama is the name of several
figures in ancient India, including a poet of the Rig Veda and also Aksapada Gautama
(or Gotama), a famous Indian logician. Pali literature normally refers to Siddhartha
Gautama as Gotama Buddha.

Traditionally, the meaning of the term Buddha is understood as a person who has
awakened from the deep sleep of ignorance. In Indian tradition, the expression was
already used before, during, and after the life of Siddhartha by many religious
communities, but it became most strongly linked to the Buddhist tradition.

Historical Context
At the time when Siddhartha Gautama lived, Northern India was composed of
numerous and small independent states competing for resources. This was a time when
the traditional religious order in India was being challenged by a number of new
philosophical and religious schools that were not in line with the orthodox Indian
religious views. The Vedic philosophy, theology and metaphysics, along with its ever
growing complexity of rituals and sacrificial fees, was being questioned. Materialistic
schools were running wild in India, undermining the reputation and authority of the
priestly class, leading to a temporary religious anarchy which contributed to the
development of new religions. By the time Siddhartha Gautama was born, the
intellectual decay of the old Brahmanic orthodoxy h