The man we call Buddha was born as Siddhartha in Nepal around 563 B.C. to the king and the queen of Shakya. After his birth, a great seer decreed that the baby would be holy, and early on Siddhartha exhibited great inteligence and empathy. His father wanted him to become king, not a hliy man, but Siddhartha was not satisfied by his pampered life, and was moved by the hardship of the commoners.