Greaves, Edwin: Kashi the city illustrious or Benares (Allahabad, 1909)

CHAPTER IX.
HAGIOLOGY.

A SKETCH of Benares would be incomplete which
did not contain some reference to the saints
whose names have been so closely associated
with the sacred city. Five are selected for notice, though
the notices must be brief. The five are: 1. Buddha,
2. Ramanand, 3. Kabir Das, 4. Ballabhacharya, and
5. Tulsi Das.

BUDDHA.

It seems most probable that Buddha's real name was
Gautama, and from his family name he is called Sakya
Muni, i. e., Saint Sakya. Buddha means " the enlightened
one," he also was entitled Siddhartha, i. e., " he who has
accomplished man's true aim and end in life."

According to tradition he was the son of Suddhodana,
Raja of Kapilvastu, (about 100 miles north of Benares),
and was born about 558 B. C, though there is much
uncertainty about the dates of his life.

In his youth he was of a meditative disposition, and
though by no means without the accomplishments which
suited his station in life, he was more given to quiet and
reflection than to the ordinary occupations of a prince.