Siddhartha

Hermann Hesse's Siddhartha: An Indian Novel published in 1922 is about a man named Siddhartha's spiritual quest of self-discovery during the time of the Gautama Buddha. It was Hesse's ninth book and was written in a straightforward lyrical style in German. It was released in the United States in 1951 and it gained popularity in the 1960s. Hesse wrote it as a tribute to Wilhelm Gundert his cousin and to Romain Rolland in the first section. The Sanskrit words Siddha (achieved) and artha (what was sought after) which make up the name Siddhartha collectively mean he who has found meaning (of existence) or he who has achieved his objectives. Actually the Buddha was known as Siddhartha Gautama when he was the prince of Kapilavastu. The story takes place in the historic kingdom of Kapilavastu in Nepal. Siddhartha makes the decision to forsake his house in the pursuit of enlightenment through asceticism as an animal roaming beggar. Together with his best friend Govinda Siddhartha abstains from food abandons his home gives up all of his possessions and engages in prolonged meditation before seeking out and speaking with Gautama the renowned Buddha or Enlightened One.