Gau·ta·ma 
(gôtə-mə, gou-), Siddhartha Known as "the Bud·dha" (bdə, bdə) 563?-483? BC.
(gôtə-mə, gou-), Siddhartha Known as "the Bud·dha" (bdə, bdə) 563?-483? BC. Indian mystic and founder of Buddhism. Born a prince, he began preaching at the age of 35 after developing the central tenets of Buddhism through intense meditation.