In about 500 BC Buddhism was founded in Northern India by Siddhartha Gauthama, a prince who walked out of the luxuries of material world in search of enlightenment. Gauthama Buddha was not the first Buddha, but the fourth and should not be considered the last one, as the Buddhists believe that enlightenment is the ultimate goal and the every one can achieve it by following it with complete faith.

Buddha had not left back any written document of his teachings and a dispute brewed which resulted in the development of two major Buddhist schools. The Theravada (doctrine of the elders), or Hinayana (Small Vehicle) holds the eventual path to Nirvana (salvation), which is the ultimate aim of all Buddhists. In contrast, the Mahayana (large vehicle) school holds that the combined faith of the whole family of followers will be enough to make the whole humanity towards Nirvana.

Buddhism is not a religion in the full sense of its meaning. It is a system of Philosophy and a code of morality, since it is not centered on God. The Buddha renounced his material life to go in search of enlightenment. Starvation was not accepted as means to achieve enlightenment, because according to Buddha it enervates. So He chose a middle path. He observed that the cause of all discontents on earth was the presence of desire and illusion about the importance of materialistic aspects of the world. He knew very well that removal of desire from the mind is the solution to all problems in the world.

The  main  force  behind  the  rapid  spread  of  Buddhism was the great emperor Ashoka, who assumed Buddhism after the great battle of Kalinga, which he won. Since his empire was extended much over India, Buddhism was carried forth widely. He sent missions to other lands in order to spread Buddhism. The earlier Theravada school of Buddhism did not believe in the representation of Buddha in the human form but his presence was alluded to art and architecture through symbols such as the Bodhi Tree (under which he attained enlightenment) or the wheel of life.