(624-544 BC) This name was given to Siddhaarth Gautam after he became enlightened one. He started his own religion - Buddhism, in reality only an other sect of Hinduism. He was born in Shaakya tribe of Kshatriya and hence acquired the name as Shaakya Muni also. His father's name was Shuddhodan whose kingdom Kapilvastu was located in what later became northern Bihaar and southern Nepaal.

When he was born, the King consulted the high astrologers about his future. They prophesied that this boy would either be a great king or would leave everything and become a great sage and ascetic. The King became concerned with this prophecy, so he restricted him from going out and made him used to luxurious royal life in the palace. Whenever he went out, special care was taken that he should not witness any painful event. When the Prince was 24 years old, he was married to Yashodharaa. For a number of years he had really good life. A son was born to him, he was named Raahul. But whatever is written in the fate, who can deny it.

Once the prince asked his servants to drive him far away in another kingdom, next to his father's. On the way whatever he saw changed his life. First he saw a sick person, then he saw an very old man, and lastly he saw a dead man carried to the cremation ground. He asked about all these. He was explained everything from poverty and sorrow till death. He was greatly affected with these. As he came back home his mind started wandering - "What the meaning of life on Earth is? It is not definitely indulging in pleasures, there must be something bigger than this." His thoughts came to such a climax that one night, when his wife was sleeping with her young son, he gave a last look at them and rode away from home never to come back. He was only 29 years old then. This even of his life is known as "Mahaa-Bhinishkraman", means the great leaving of the world behind.

He learnt scriptures from a Priest Aalaar and moved to a village named Uruvelaa where he joined ascetics. He stayed under a tree for 6 years going through extreme deprivation of food. He finally realized, after 6 years that it was a futile exercise and left it by accepting a little milk pudding from Sujaataa - the daughter of a villager. This displease his 5 disciples who joined him later.

Then he moved to a place, now called Bodhgayaa and sat under a Peepal tree for 7 weeks. At the end of 7 weeks, he obtained enlightenment and became Buddha or Tathaagat. Now he was ready to deliver his message which he did to mankind for the next 45 years. He moved to Saaranaath, near Vaaraanasee, where he delivered his first sermon, called Dharm-Chakra. His most famous disciple was Aanand. He died at the age of 80 in Kusheenagar, near Gorakhpur, UP.

(563-483 BC)  Buddha was born as a prince in Lumbinee, a dusty village in Nepal's rice-growing plains about 350 km (220 miles) west of the capital Kaathmaandoo more than 2,600 years ago. He is believed to have attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya in the eastern Indian state of Bihar, which borders Nepal.

Taantrism emerged during the reign of Harsh Vardhan (606-647) which brought changes in Hinduism as well as in Buddhism. It introduced most powerful number of female Divinities in Buddhism, called Taaraa(s) - the consorts of weaker Buddha and Bodhisattwa. It introduced most powerful number of female Divinities, called Taaraa(s) - the consorts of weaker Buddha and Bodhisattwa.

The third form of Buddhism subsequently became most important in Nepaal and Tibbat (Tibet). The Taantrik Hinduism and Buddhism both exalted female power as the highest form of Divine strength. True worship of the Mother through sexual intercourse was regarded as Divine ritual. But since the traditional Braahman and Buddhist did not permit this, it relegated to secret sites. Taantrik ritual is intimately connected to the practice of Yog. Since control of the body and breath are central to the proper performance of the intercourse, Yog was pursued first of all along 8-fold path of Raaj Yog ("Royal Yog") through self-control, observance of the proper conduct, practice of posture (Aasan) as well as breath (Praan) exercises, organic restraint and mind steadying, to the perfect achievement of deep meditation (Samaadhi) and the absolute freedom "Kaivalya" (Moksh).

Many Stoops are built for Bauddh people.