BOUDDHA (Sanskrit term बुद्ध buddha "awakened," past passive participle of the verbal root budh-, "to awaken"), refers to a person who has, notably through their wisdom (prajñā), achieved awakening, which means attaining nirvāna (according to hīnayāna), or transcending the duality of samsara (Saṃsāra)/nirvana (nirvāņa) (according to Mahāyāna).
He can be referred to by other qualifiers: "Blessed One" (भगवत्, bhagavat), "The Conqueror" (जिन, Jina), "Thus-Come" (तथागत, Tathāgata). The term buddha can therefore refer to several people. The most well-known buddha remains the founder of Buddhism, Siddhārtha Gautama, the archetype of the "pure and perfect buddha."