Siddhartha Gautama changed the spiritual landscape of the world forever as the Buddha. While millions follow his teachings today, the actual man behind the golden statues remains a figure of mystery and legend. For instance, he originally lived a life of extreme luxury and had never seen a sick person until his late twenties. Furthermore, the popular image of the laughing, round-bellied figure is actually not him at all. Prepare to sit under the Bodhi tree with the sage of the Shakyas.
Buddha
The “Fat Buddha” is actually a different person entirely. The jolly, round figure seen in Chinese restaurants is Budai, a 10th-century Chinese monk. In contrast, the historical Siddhartha Gautama lived a life of moderation and appears slender in traditional Indian art.
His mother supposedly gave birth to him through her side. Legends state that Queen Maya stood holding a tree branch while the infant emerged from her right flank without causing her any pain. She passed away just seven days after this miraculous event.
He named his only son “Fetter” or “Chain.” When his wife Yasodhara gave birth, Prince Siddhartha famously whispered the name “Rahula.” This name signified that he viewed the child as a bond that would tie him to his worldly life.
His father tried to hide all suffering from him. King Suddhodana wanted his son to become a great ruler rather than a holy man. Consequently, he confined the prince to the palace and removed any sick, old, or dying people from his sight.
He nearly starved himself to death before finding enlightenment. During his search for truth, he ate as little as one grain of rice a day and became skeletal. He eventually realized that extreme self-denial was just as unhelpful as extreme luxury.
The “long earlobes” on his statues symbolize his past wealth. As a prince, he wore heavy gold jewelry and earrings that permanently stretched his ears. Therefore, the elongated lobes serve as a reminder of the riches he left behind.
He battled a demon named Mara under the Bodhi tree. Myth says this demon sent armies of monsters and beautiful women to distract him from his meditation. Siddhartha defeated him by simply touching the earth to call it as his witness.
His last meal might have been pork or poisonous mushrooms. Ancient texts describe his final dish as “sukara-maddava,” which translates to “pig’s soft.” Scholars still debate whether this meant tender pork or a type of truffle that pigs enjoy.
One of his teeth remains in a heavily guarded temple in Sri Lanka. The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy houses this physical piece of the master. History says wars were fought just to possess this single dental fragment.
He never claimed to be a god. Siddhartha always emphasized that he was merely a human being who had woken up to the truth. He instructed his followers to question his teachings rather than worshipping him blindly.
He hesitated to allow women to become nuns. Although he eventually established an order for women, he initially refused the request of his stepmother. His cousin Ananda had to argue that women were just as capable of enlightenment as men.
He personally cared for his sick father in his final days. Despite leaving his family years earlier, he returned to the palace when King Suddhodana fell ill. Texts say he washed and fed his father with his own hands until the end.
He did not write down any of his teachings. For centuries after his death, his followers passed down his sermons entirely by memory. Scribes finally wrote the Pali Canon on palm leaves around four hundred years later.
He converted a serial killer named Angulimala. This feared bandit wore a necklace made of human fingers cut from his victims. The Buddha confronted him with kindness, leading the murderer to become a peaceful monk.
Finally, he died lying on his right side. Statues of the “Reclining Buddha” depict this final moment before he entered Parinirvana. He told his weeping disciples that all composite things must pass away and to strive for their own liberation.
