According to Buddhist traditions,
Prince
Gautama Siddhartha, wandering as an ascetic, reached the sylvan banks of
Falgu River, near the
city of .
Gaya
There he sat in meditation under a
bodhi tree (
Ficus religiosa). After three days and three nights of meditation, Siddharta attained enlightenment and insight, and the answers that he had sought. He then spent seven weeks at seven different spots in the vicinity meditating and considering his experience. After seven weeks, he travelled to
Sarnath, where he began teaching
Buddhism.
Disciples of Gautama Siddhartha began to visit the place where he had gained enlightenment during the full moon in the month of
Vaisakh (April-May), as per the
Hindu calendar. Over time, the place became known as Bodh Gaya, the day of enlightenment as
Buddha Purnima, and the tree as the Bodhi Tree.
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