Born a prince in Lumbini, Siddhartha Gautama renounced his royal life to seek the end of human suffering. After years of asceticism and meditation, he achieved enlightenment under a Bodhi tree, becoming the Buddha ('The Awakened One'). His teachings, centered on the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, emphasized mindfulness, ethical living, and the cessation of craving. Buddhism eventually spread throughout Asia, becoming one of the world's major religions. Unlike the social hierarchies of his time, Buddha taught that anyone, regardless of caste or background, could achieve Nirvana. His influence on Eastern philosophy, art, and ethics is immeasurable, and his life remains a universal symbol of the search for inner peace and compassion.