Buddhism was founded in Northern India by the Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama , circa 563-483 BCE). At the age of 29, he left his wife, children and political involvement's in order to seek truth; this was an accepted practice at the time for some men to leave their family and lead the life of an ascetic. He studied Brahminism, but ultimately rejected it. In 535 BCE, he reached enlightenment and assumed the title Buddha (one who has awakened).