week after his birth, his mother died and he was brought up by
his aunt, Mahaprajapati. At a name giving ceremony he was
given the name Siddharta which means One Whose Aim Is
Accomplished.
Ancient Pali commentaries relate a significant incident which
occured during the Ploughing Ceremony, when as a young child
and left alone in a tent under a rose-apple tree, his nurses later
found the prince to be seated in a lotus posture and having en-
tered one-pointedness of mind known as Samadhi.
e young prince grew up in the midst of luxury and splendour
and at the age of 16, was married to his cousin, the beautiful
Yasodhara. For almost thirteen years after his marriage, he led a
blissful life unaware of the ever changing nature and misfortunes
of life outside the palace.
When he was 29 years old Gautama encountered four significant
sights which marked the turning point of his life. First he saw a
weak and frail old man leaning on a staff, next a diseased person,
then a corpse and finally, a shaven-headed hermit in yellow robe
moving around with a peaceful and serene countenance. e first
three sights convincingly showed him the inexorable nature of
life, and the universal ailments of humanity; the fourth showed
the means to overcome the ills of life and to attain to calm and
peace. Realising the worthlessness of sensual pleasures and the
value of renunciation he decided to leave home in search of Truth
and Eternal Peace.