Shakyamuni Buddha

शाक्यमुनि बुद्ध

The awakened prince of the Śākyas who taught the middle way beyond suffering

Shakyamuni Buddha, the "Sage of the Śākyas," is the historical Buddha, founder and teacher of Buddhism. Born Siddhārtha Gautama, a prince of the Śākya clan in northern India around the 5th century BCE (the dates are debated), he left his palace to seek an end to suffering. Buddhists hold that beneath a tree at Bodh Gaya, touching the earth as his witness, he awoke. He then spent his life teaching a middle way of ethics, meditation and wisdom.

Devotees turn to him as teacher and guide toward awakening (bodhi) and the end of suffering. He is honoured in the Theravāda, Mahāyāna and Vajrayāna schools alike. Festivals such as Hanamatsuri in Japan, Vesak in Sri Lanka and Visakha Bucha in Thailand mark his life, and their dates differ by country and calendar.

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How to recognise Shakyamuni Buddha

UṣṇīṣaLook for a bump or a spire-like flame finial on top of the head, one of the 32 marks of a great man; its shape varies by region.
Snail-shell curlsHis short hair is shown in small tight spiral curls covering the head and the uṣṇīṣa, never long and flowing.
ŪrṇāA small dot or curl sits between the eyebrows.
Long earlobesThe elongated earlobes recall the princely earrings he set aside when he left the palace.
Monastic robeHe wears a plain ochre or saffron robe, covering both shoulders or leaving the right shoulder bare, with no jewelry.
Earth-touching mudraIn bhūmisparśa the right hand reaches over the right knee to touch the ground, recalling the earth as witness to his awakening; in dhyāna both hands rest palms-up in the lap in meditation.
Lotus seatHe sits cross-legged on a lotus or throne, soles turned upward, in a steady, serene posture.

Names and titles

The Awakened OneThe meaning of the title Buddha
Sage of the Shakya ClanThe meaning of Shakyamuni, sage of the Shakyas
The Blessed OneBhagavat, among the most frequent canonical epithets
The Thus-Come OneTathāgata, the title he used for himself
Calling the Earth to WitnessAt awakening he touched the earth as witness, overcoming Māra

Feast days

Rōhatsu (Jōdō-e)8 December, every year
Nehan-e15 February, every year
Hanamatsuri8 April, every year
Buddha's Birthday9 May 2027 (date to be confirmed)
Vesak Full Moon Poya19 May 2027
Visakha Bucha20 May 2027

In art and place public-domain and openly licensed images

Fasting Buddha Shakyamuni, 3rd–5th century Gandhara (Pakistan), showing his extreme asceticism before enlightenment, with monks carved on the base.The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Samuel Eilenberg Collection, Ex Coll.: Columbia University, Purchase, Rogers, Dodge, Harris Brisbane Dick and Fletcher Funds, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, and Lila Acheson Wallace Gift, 1987 (CC0)