SIDDHARTH
SHAKYA
Siddharth
Shakya :
Siddharth Shakya also known as Gautam Buddh was the son of Suddhodhana
Shakya, the ruler of Kapilavastu.
Shakya
clan or Shakya caste is a Kshatriya varna dynasty belonging to
Suryavansh (Ikshvaku Dynasty) as per Vishhu Puran (Book 4, Chapter
22) and Bhagavat Puran, canto 9, chapter 12.
Lord
Ram also belonged to the same Ikshvaku Dynasty.
But
Shakya caste also belonged to Gautama Gotra, which is actually
a Brahmin Gotra. This is the reason why Buddh is known as Gautam
Buddh.
“Gotra
is based on genealogy, while varna is based on occupation.”
So, while Buddh (shakya clan) was a Brahmin genetically, however,
since Shakya clan was a warrior clan hence Buddh was considered
as Kshatriya by varna.
Due
to this even Hindu Puran's considered Buddh (Siddhartha Shakya)
as a Kshatriya and not a Brahmin.
The
chapter 22 of Vishnu Puran mentions :
• Sanjay’s son as King Shakya (the
founder of Shakya Dynasty),
• Shakya’s son was King Shuddhodhan
Shakya,
• Shuddhodhan’s son was prince Siddharth
Shakya. But Siddharth Shakya left the kingdom and founded a new
religion named Buddhism. Siddharth Shakya was later came to be
known as Lord Gautam Buddh.
• Siddhartha’s son was Rahul Shakya.
Since Siddharth (Lord Gautam Buddh) declined to become the king,
hence his son Rahul became the next king of Suryavansh.
![](http://rootshunt.com/Shakyacaste.png)