Buddha means “awakened one” or “enlightened one” in the ancient language of Sanskrit. The word refers most famously to Siddhartha Gautama, a spiritual teacher who lived in India about 2,500 years ago and founded Buddhism.

According to Buddhist tradition, Siddhartha was born a prince but gave up his wealth and comfort to understand why people suffer. After years of searching and meditation, he achieved enlightenment: a deep understanding of life, suffering, and how to find peace. His followers called him the Buddha because he had “awakened” to these truths.

The word can also refer to anyone who achieves this state of enlightenment in Buddhist belief, though when people say “the Buddha,” they usually mean Siddhartha Gautama specifically. Buddhism spread from India throughout Asia and now has hundreds of millions of followers worldwide. Buddhist temples often contain statues of the Buddha sitting in meditation, usually depicted with a peaceful expression and crossed legs.

The teachings of the Buddha focus on compassion, mindfulness, and understanding the nature of suffering. His ideas have influenced not just religion but also philosophy, art, and literature across many cultures for thousands of years.