When Prince Siddhartha was seven days old, Queen Maya Devi expired. King Shuddhodana married Maya Devi’s younger sister, Prajapati Gotami who raised Siddhartha as her own son. Prince Siddhartha was sent to school by the King where he studied with children from noble families and learnt not only education-based subjects but also archery, horse-riding and other extra-curricular skills. He was the most intelligent in the class and also the best in sports and martial arts. Prince Siddhartha was also the teacher’s favourite because of his kind and helpful nature.

Right from his childhood, King Shuddhodhana always shielded Prince Siddhartha from worldly matters. The Prince was consciously kept in a separate palace built by the King, after his basic education, and was raised in complete luxury and worldly comforts.

There is a famous story where Prince Devadatta was hunting along with Prince Siddhartha and other friends. Prince Devadatta shot and injured a bird with his bow and arrow. Siddhartha rushed to help the bird, gently removed the arrow and tended to the wound by applying some medicinal leaves. Later when he was about to set the bird free, Prince Devadatta got angry and said that he should get hold of the bird. Prince Siddhartha refused and hence both the princes decided to go to a Sage to settle their fight. Once the Sage heard the complete story, he said that the bird belongs to the one who has saved it. This story shows how kind Prince Siddhartha was.