# Gotama — Siddhartha character guide

> Gotama in Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** the Gotama, the exalted Gotama, Buddha, the Buddha

**First appearance:** 0003-part-i-gotama

## Who they are

The historical Buddha, whom Siddhartha and Govinda meet; Siddhartha reveres him but chooses his own path.

## Relationships

### [Siddhartha](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/siddhartha_se/characters/siddhartha)

_social_

Gotama (the Buddha) is a revered teacher whom Siddhartha respects but chooses not to follow as a disciple.

### [Govinda](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/siddhartha_se/characters/govinda)

_social_

Gotama is the enlightened teacher whom Govinda reverently joins as a disciple.

### [Vasudeva](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/siddhartha_se/characters/vasudeva)

_social_

Gotama and Vasudeva are both spiritual figures but have no direct meaningful interaction in the narrative.

### [Kamala](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/siddhartha_se/characters/kamala)

_social_

Gotama and Kamala have no significant direct relationship in the story.

### [Kamaswami](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/siddhartha_se/characters/kamaswami)

_social_

Gotama and Kamaswami are unrelated figures from Siddhartha's spiritual and material phases.

### [Govinda](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/siddhartha_se/characters/govinda)

_social_

Gotama is the enlightened teacher whom Govinda reverently joins as a disciple.

### [Siddhartha](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/siddhartha_se/characters/siddhartha)

_social_

Gotama (the Buddha) is a revered teacher whom Siddhartha respects but chooses not to follow as a disciple.

## In the story

### [With the Samanas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/siddhartha_se/chapters/part-i-with-the-samanas)

Mentioned as a mythic figure, the Buddha, whose reputation as one who has overcome suffering reaches the young men and prompts their journey.

### [Gotama](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/siddhartha_se/chapters/part-i-gotama)

The Buddha, depicted in his perfection of calm and truth. Delivers teachings on suffering and the eightfold path, and accepts Govinda as a disciple. Listens patiently to Siddhartha's objection.

### [Awakening](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/siddhartha_se/chapters/part-i-awakening)

Left behind in the grove; Siddhartha explicitly parts from him as his 'last teacher,' unable to accept his teachings.

### [Kamala](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/siddhartha_se/chapters/part-ii-kamala)

Remembered by Siddhartha; he reflects that his current quest to experience his self is the very 'unexpressable' truth he once told the Buddha was his real secret.

### [Sansara](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/siddhartha_se/chapters/part-ii-sansara)

Remembered by Siddhartha as a figure from his past seeking, contrasted with his current hollow existence.

### [By the River](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/siddhartha_se/chapters/part-ii-by-the-river)

Referenced by Govinda as his teacher and by Siddhartha as a source of great knowledge he ultimately had to leave.

### [The Ferryman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/siddhartha_se/chapters/part-ii-the-ferryman)

Not present in the chapter excerpts.

### [Govinda](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/siddhartha_se/chapters/part-ii-govinda)

Referenced as the 'exalted Gotama.' Siddhartha uses his teachings to illustrate the one-sided nature of verbal instruction. Govinda sees Siddhartha's smile as identical to the Buddha's thousandfold smile.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/siddhartha_se/characters/gotama
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/siddhartha_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/siddhartha_se/characters