ABSTRACT
The life stories of most great personalities that shaped the history of humankind may follow specific or approximate timelines of births, deaths, and dates of great achievements. However, dates in the life story of the Buddha are shrouded in legend, myth, and speculation. Variances may exceed a century or two. What is certain is that the famous Indian spiritual leader and founder of Buddhism was a historical figure who lived sometime between the sixth and fourth centuries b.c.e. He was born in Lumbini, in what is now Nepal. His name was Siddhartha Gautama, a prince of the Kshatriya, or warrior, caste.
