siddhartha gautama was born just outside the city in lumbini as prince siddhartha gautam in a shakya clan. his father was a ruler named shuddhodana, and his mother was named maya. maya died when siddhartha was about 7 days old. his father controlled him in a very peaceful and nice way. there were home tutors for him as he was not interested in the outward things that took place at that time. siddhartha lived in luxury; his father kept trouble and hard work far from him. a seer predicted that if siddhartha stayed inside his palace his whole life, then he would become a great king. however, if he left the palace, then he would become a great religious leader. the king did not want his son to become a religious leader. he kept siddhartha in the palace for his entire childhood.