Buddhism

Buddhism began in ancient India over 2,500 years ago, around the 5th century BCE. Its founder,
Siddhartha Gautama, who later became known as the Buddha, was a prince from the Shakya clan in
present-day Nepal. According to legend, he was born into a life of luxury but was deeply troubled by the
suffering and impermanence of life.

At the age of 29, he left his royal palace and began a spiritual journey seeking answers to the nature of
existence and the meaning of life. After several years of intense meditation and self-reflection, he finally
attained enlightenment at the age of 35, while sitting under a bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, India. He then
spent the rest of his life teaching others what he had learned.

The Buddha's teachings emphasized the Four Noble Truths: the truth of suffering, the cause of suffering,
the cessation of suffering, and the path to the cessation of suffering. He taught that the ultimate goal of
life is to attain enlightenment, which is achieved through following the Eightfold Path, a set of ethical
and mental guidelines.

Buddhism quickly spread throughout India and eventually to other parts of Asia, including Sri Lanka,
China, and Japan. Today, Buddhism is one of the major world religions, with an estimated 500 million
followers worldwide.

• Got married at the age of 16 to Yashodhara.

• Gautama born in 566 BC – 483 BC

• Died at Kusinagar in Gorakhpur district at age of 80.

Ashoka Maurya (272 BC – 232 BC)

Ashoka Maurya was a powerful emperor of the Mauryan Empire in India who ruled from 268 BCE to 232
BCE. He played a significant role in the growth and spread of Buddhism, both during his reign and long
after his death.

Ashoka initially practiced Hinduism, but after witnessing the brutality of war, he experienced a profound
change of heart and became a follower of Buddhism. He then used his political power to promote the
teachings of the Buddha throughout his vast empire, which covered much of present-day India, Nepal,
Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

Ashoka built numerous Buddhist stupas, monasteries, and pillars throughout his empire, many of which
survive to this day. These structures served as important centers of Buddhist worship and learning, and
they helped to spread the religion to other parts of Asia.

Ashoka also convened the Third Buddhist Council, which was held at Pataliputra in present-day India.
After Ashoka's death, Buddhism continued to flourish in India and spread to other parts of Asia. Overall,
Ashoka Maurya played a crucial role in the growth and spread of Buddhism, both during his lifetime and
long after his death. His support and patronage of Buddhism helped to establish it as a major religion in
India and beyond.