Buddha

Buddha bo͞oˈdə, bo͝o– [Skt.,=the enlightened One], usual title given to the founder of Buddhism. He is also called the Tathagata [he who has come thus], Bhagavat [the Lord], and Sugata [well-gone]. He probably lived from 563 to 483 b.c. The story of his life is overlaid with legend, the earliest written accounts dating 200 years after his death (see Buddhist literature).

Sections in this article:

• Introduction
• Founding of Buddhism
• Enlightenment
• Early Life
• Bibliography

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2023, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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