Description Gautama Buddha, popularly known as the Buddha, was a ramaa who lived in ancient India. He is regarded as the founder of the world religion of Buddhism, and revered by most Buddhist schools as a savior, the Enlightened One who rediscovered an ancient path to release clinging and craving and escape the cycle of birth and rebirth. He taught for around 45 years and built a large following, both monastic and lay. His teaching is based on his insight into the arising of dukha (the unsatisfactoriness of clinging to impermanent states and things) and the ending of duhkhathe state called Nibbna or Nirvana (extinguishing of the three fires).