Siddhartha was the son of King Suddhodana, born long after his marriage to Queen Mayadevi. On the seventh day after she gve birth to Siddhartha, she died. The king’s second wife, Gauthami brought him up witn great love and affection That is the reason why Siddhartha was also called as Gautham. Since he developed a sharp intellect and a spirit of enquiry, he was also called Buddha. At the time of his birth, an Astrologer predicted that he would be either a great king or a total renunciant in due course. The King Suddhodana was deeply disturbed at the prediction. From then on he did not allow the young boy to go outside the royal palace and mix with people. He was afraid that if Siddhartha was allowed to go outside, his mind may be disturbed on seeing any old person or a dead body and may develop a feeling of renunciation and leave the house forever. Hence, he made sure that his son did not witness such scenes wich develop negative feelings in him. Thus, the boy grew up in an exclusive royal environment. As soon as he attained the marriageable age, the King performed the marriage of Siddhartha with Yasodhara, the daughter of his brother-in-law. The King felt that there can be no possibility of his son becoming a renunciant, if he is married.. Since after, he made Siddhartha, the crown Prince of his Kingdom. (Beacons of Divine Wisdom Part 2, pp. 138-139)

One day Siddhartha told his father King Siddhodhana, ‘A king should not confine himself to the inner chambers of the royal palace. Hence, I will go into our Kingdom to observe at first hand how it is going.’ Suddhodana had to agree to the request of his son though reluctantly, especially as was the crown Prince. Since Siddhartha was a married person, he was sure that he would return to the palace soon. Siddhartha proceesed on a tour in the Kingdom, seated on a chariot. After going for some distance, he saw an old woman walking with the help of a stick, her back completely bent down. He enquired his charioteer, ‘Who is this strange beast? The charioteer, ‘Lord! She is no beast. She is a human being verily! Because of age, she bent down like this.’ The Prince again enquired, ‘Do all people reach this stage, as age advances?’ The charioteer replied, ‘Yes Sir! It is a must. This This part of nature.’ They proceeded further. This time they saw a T. B. patient sitting under a tree, coughing and crying ‘Alas!’, unable to bear the pain. Siddharth enquired, ‘Why this man is suffering like this?’ The charioteer explained, ‘Oh! Lord! The body is a den of diseases. No one knows what diseases will affect him and when.’ Siddhartha’s mind was disturbed on witnessing this scene. Again after proceeding further, four people were found to be carrying a dead body on their shoulders. Siddhartha enquired, ‘What do they carry?’ The charioteer replied that it was a dead body being carried to the burial ground. He could not understand what a dead body means. The charioteer told him that a dead body is without life. Siddhartha again enquired, ‘Do all people die.’ The charioteer once again answered the query saying, ‘Yes, Sir! No one can escape this. All people have to die at one time or the other.’ The moment Siddhartha heard this, he was deeply disturbed and returned home. He did not take his his meal. He lied down on his bed, but could not get sleep. Finally, he realised the truth and lamented, Alas! My parents, relatives and friends have all joined together and bound me in this marital bondage. Wherever I see and whomever I come across, it is only sorrow everywhere. Everything is fleeting and void only.’ (Sarvam dukham, sarvam kshanikam, sarvam shunyam). Siddhartha was thus afflicted with a deep sense of detachment. Finally, at the age of 28 he renounced his wife Yasodhara and son Rahul and entered into a forest as a total renunciant. People in general come across several old persons, patients and even dead bodies. But, not all are affected by such intense feeling of detachment. It is only a Siddhartha who could get such feeling. Hence, God’s grace is necessary to attain such a state of deep detachment. He reminded himself

‘No father, no mother, no brothers and relatives,

No wealth, no family: be careful, be careful;

Sorrow in birth, sorrow in death, sorrow again and again;

Deep sorrow in final moments, be careful, be careful.’ (Telugu Poem)

Siddhartha realised the fact that it is only friends and relatives who are the cause for human bondage and that this bondage is responsible for man’s suffering and sorrow. He therefore decided to go in search of the transcendental Truth. (Beacons of Divine Wisdom Part 2, pp.139-141)