BOUDDHA (Sanskrit term बुद्ध buddha "awakened," passive past participle of the verbal root budh-, "to awaken"), refers to a person who, notably through wisdom (prajñā), has achieved awakening, meaning has attained nirvāna (according to hīnayāna), or transcended 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 appellation of Buddha can therefore refer to several individuals. The most well-known Buddha remains the founder of Buddhism, Siddhārtha Gautama, the archetype of the "pure and perfect Buddha."