Gautama Siddhartha was born around 560 B.C. in Lumbini Park near the city of Kapilavastu on the Indian borders of present Nepal. Siddhartha's father was Suddhodana, king of the Sakya. Buddha's mother was named Maya. Maya died seven days after her son's birth; therefore, the child was brought up by Maya's sister prajapati, who became its foster-mother.
             Since King Suddhodana had long awaited a child, he and everyone else in the palace rejoiced at the birth of his son. The King immediately called a famous wise sage, Asita. Asita told the king, "If he remains at home, the child will become the Wheel-rolling King. If he leaves home, he will become the great teacher, the Buddha." "What shall my son see to make him retire from the world?" King Suddhodana asked the wise sage. "Four signs, a decrepit old man, a diseased man, a dead man and a monk - these four will make the prince retire from the world," replied Asita.
             When Prince Siddhartha was only a few years old, his father, King Suddhodana sent him to school. There were many children in his class; all of them were from noble families. He learnt languages, reading, writing, mathematics, history, geography, science, and many games like boxing, archery, wrestling and many others. He learnt all these subjects faster than all other students in his class. He was the cleverest in the class and the best at games. He gained distinction in every subject and became cleverer than his teachers. He was the wisest and the only one who asked many questions from his teachers and elders. He was the strongest, the tallest and the most handsome boy in the class. He was never lazy, never misbehaved and never disobedient to the teachers. He loved everybody and everybody loved him. He was a friend to all.
             King Suddhodana feared that he might lose his precious son and tried his best to make him attached to earthly objects and desires. He surrounded him with all kinds of luxury and indulgence in order t...