According to traditional Buddhist dating, Shakyamuni Buddha (Shakya thub-pa), also known as Gautama Buddha (Gau-ta-ma), lived from 566 to 485 BC. in central northern India. Buddhist sources contain numerous differing biographies of the Buddha's life, with additional details that emerged gradually over time. Since the first Buddhist literature was not written down until three centuries after the passing of the Buddha, difficulty arises in attempting to ascertain the accuracy of any detail found in these biographies. However, the reliability of some details in relation to others cannot be discounted simply on the grounds that they appeared in written form later. Many descriptions may have been transmitted orally for a long time, while others were written down. Original page: www.berzinarchives.com /web/ru/archives/approaching_buddhism/teachers/lineage_masters/life_shakyamuni_buddha.html