One night In 535 BCE, at the age of 35, he was seated underneath a large tree -- later known as the Bodhi tree (species Pipal or Ficus religious). Siddhartha Gautama Buddha began to experience some major spiritual breakthroughs:

During the first watch of the night, he developed the ability to recall the events of his previous reincarnations in detail.

During the second watch, he was able to see how the good and bad deeds that many living entities performed during their lifetimes led to the nature of their subsequent reincarnation into their next life.

During the third watch, he learned that he had progressed beyond "spiritual defilements," craving, desire, hatred, hunger, thirst, exhaustion, fear, doubt, and delusions. He had attained nirvana. He would never again be reincarnated into a future life.

Siddhartha Gautama Buddha had attained enlightenment! "Siddhartha Gautama Buddha became a savior, deliverer, and redeemer."

The events under the Bodhi Tree are often described in mythological terms in Buddhist literature and art. His experiences are portrayed as a battle with Mara, the Buddhist equivalent of the Judeo-Christian-Islamic Satan.

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