Shuddhodana

Shuddhodana was the king of the Shakya clan and the father of Siddhartha Gautama, who became known as the Buddha. His capital was Kapilavastu. According to tradition, Queen Maha Maya, Shuddhodana's wife, dreamed of a white elephant entering her womb, signifying the conception of a child destined for greatness.1

The king shielded his son, Prince Siddhartha, from the harsh realities of life, including old age, sickness, and death, providing him with a life of luxury. However, at age 29, Siddhartha encountered an old man, a sick person, a corpse, and a mendicant, which profoundly changed his perspective and led him to leave his royal life in search of enlightenment. Despite his father's attempts to keep him content, Siddhartha renounced his privileged life, his wife, and his newborn son, Rahula, to pursue spiritual liberation.1