Siddhartha - Paperback

by Herman Hesse (Author)

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 was written in a straightforward, lyrical style in German. It was released in the United States in 1951, it gained popularity in the 1960s. Hesse wrote it as a tribute to Wilhelm Gundert, his cousin, to Romain Roll in the first section. The Sanskrit words Siddha (achieved 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, abons his home, gives up all of his possessions, engages in prolonged meditation before seeking out speaking with Gautama, the renowned Buddha or Enlightened One.