How did Buddha get its name?
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The man who became the Buddha was born into the Shakya clan. His mother died 7 days after he was born, and he was raised by his aunt, also his stepmother, Gautami. His own name, Gotama, may reflect that he was seen as the first son of Gautami. Gautami had two other children, a boy, Nanda, and a girl, Sujari Nanda. Thus if the future Buddha was considered to be the first child of Gautami, that would be a reason he was called Gautama as a child.
Gautama is sometimes spelled Gotama, and Gautami, Gotami. The alternate spellings are simply the result of alternate sources and translations.
Today, such a boy might be named Gautama Shakya.
His father was the ruling king of the Shakya clan.
Childhood names were often dropped, and people were referred to by titles or names given later, based on their accomplishments in life.
The Buddha received a number of names or titles during his lifetime. Shakyamuni, which means “guru of the Shakya clan,” was one. His father was the king of the Shakya clan. He ruled in a small area of North India 2,500 years ago. His father was a king within the larger Indian empire, and the Buddha’s original role was Crown Prince and his destiny to be a king. He abandoned this future to go on his spiritual journey.
Thanks to Linda Blanchard and Sujeet Pandey for their note, belows, which led to revisions in the above paragraphs.
Both Siddhartha and Buddha are, properly, not names, but epithets, that is, titles he was given. Siddha means “one who has achieved spiritual power.” The name “Siddhartha” is given to one who has achieved siddha, one how has achieved a spiritual goal.
The title Buddha means one who is Awake, from the root “Budh-,” which means awake. Enlightened One is a poor translation of this, and Awakened One is a good translation. To be awake is a metaphor. When we are awake in the ordinary sense, our eyes are open and we see all things as they are. When we are spiritually Awake, all our senses, including our mind, are open and free of delusion,and we experience all of life as it is. People in the time of Gotama Shakyamuni saw that he was like that, and called him Buddha.
Gautama is sometimes spelled Gotama, and Gautami, Gotami. The alternate spellings are simply the result of alternate sources and translations.
Today, such a boy might be named Gautama Shakya.
His father was the ruling king of the Shakya clan.
Childhood names were often dropped, and people were referred to by titles or names given later, based on their accomplishments in life.
The Buddha received a number of names or titles during his lifetime. Shakyamuni, which means “guru of the Shakya clan,” was one. His father was the king of the Shakya clan. He ruled in a small area of North India 2,500 years ago. His father was a king within the larger Indian empire, and the Buddha’s original role was Crown Prince and his destiny to be a king. He abandoned this future to go on his spiritual journey.
Thanks to Linda Blanchard and Sujeet Pandey for their note, belows, which led to revisions in the above paragraphs.
Both Siddhartha and Buddha are, properly, not names, but epithets, that is, titles he was given. Siddha means “one who has achieved spiritual power.” The name “Siddhartha” is given to one who has achieved siddha, one how has achieved a spiritual goal.
The title Buddha means one who is Awake, from the root “Budh-,” which means awake. Enlightened One is a poor translation of this, and Awakened One is a good translation. To be awake is a metaphor. When we are awake in the ordinary sense, our eyes are open and we see all things as they are. When we are spiritually Awake, all our senses, including our mind, are open and free of delusion,and we experience all of life as it is. People in the time of Gotama Shakyamuni saw that he was like that, and called him Buddha.
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