Gautama Buddha was born as Prince Siddhartha. He set out to explore his kingdom and was greatly moved at the state of human suffering. One day, he renounced the world and began a life of asceticism to seek the ultimate truth. His search led him to enlightenment that liberated and illuminated him as he pondered under a Bodhi tree. He became Buddha at the age of 35. http://www.amarchitrakatha.com