Śuddhodana

King Śuddhodana
Śuddhodana and his court
King of Shakya Kingdom
Predecessor	King Sihahanu
Born	Kapilavastu, Nepal
Died	Kapilavastu, Nepal
Consort	Maya Mahapajapati Gotami
Issue	Gautama Buddha Sundari Nanda Nanda
Dynasty	Shakya
Father	King Sihahanu
Mother	Queen Kaccanā

Suddhodana (Sanskrit: Śuddhodana; Pali: Suddhōdana; Sinhala: සුද්ධෝදන මහ රජතුමා) was the father of Gautama Buddha. He was a leader of the Shakya, who lived in Kapilavastu.

Suddhodana’s father was Sihahanu while his mother was Kaccanā. Śuddhodana's son, Siddhartha Gautama (who became known as Shakyamuni, the "Sage of the Shakyans," or the Buddha), married his cousin Yasodharā, daughter of Suppabuddha and his father’s sister, at the age of 16.

Suddhodana’s consorts, Maya and Mahapajapati Gotami, were Buddha’s mother and stepmother.

Other children of Suddhodana include Nandā and Nanda, both of whom became Buddhist monastics.

Siddhartha Gautama was born in the Shakya capital of Kapilavastu. Siddhartha renounced his family in his 20s, leaving behind a wife and an infant to become a śramaṇa.

Suddhodana lamented his son’s departure and spent considerable effort attempting to locate him. Seven years later, after word of his enlightenment reached Suddhodana, he sent nine emissaries to invite Siddhartha back to the Shakya land. The Buddha preached to the emissaries and their entourage, who joined the Sangha.

Suddhodana then sent a close friend of Siddhartha, Kaludayi, to invite him to return. Kaludayi also chose to become a monk, but kept his word to invite the Buddha back to his home. The Buddha accepted his father's invitation and returned to visit his home. During this visit, he preached the dharma to Suddhodana.

Four years later, when the Buddha heard of Suddhodana's impending death, he once again returned to his home and preached further to Śuddhodana at his deathbed.