Buddha is an unincorporated town in Guthrie Township

Guthrie Township, Lawrence County, Indiana

Guthrie Township is one of nine townships in Lawrence County, Indiana, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 1,583.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Guthrie Township covers an area of ; of this, is land and is water...

, Lawrence County

Lawrence County, Indiana

As of the census of 2000, there were 45,922 people, 18,535 households, and 13,141 families residing in the county. The population density was 102 people per square mile . There were 20,560 housing units at an average density of 46 per square mile...

, Indiana

Indiana

Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...

. The local pronunciation of the name has traditionally been "boo-dee", rhyming with "Judy", though younger residents often pronounce it in line with the religious concept

Gautama Buddha

Siddhārtha Gautama was a spiritual teacher from the Indian subcontinent, on whose teachings Buddhism was founded. In most Buddhist traditions, he is regarded as the Supreme Buddha Siddhārtha Gautama (Sanskrit: सिद्धार्थ गौतम; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual teacher from the Indian...

.

History

Though it was once known as Flinn's Crossroads, the origin of the town's current name is a subject of debate. The most prevalent story is that the name was suggested by a traveling salesman who stopped at the hamlet's store when it was only known by the street crossing that marked the downtown. Similarly, another story suggests the town was named for a rail traveling "hobo" that frequented the area. According to the story, the man was referred to as Buddha due to his short and heavy stature. Another story states that the name derives from some of the first settlers in the area, an English family named Bodey that operated a supply port on the East Fork of the White River one mile south of the crossroads, in what is now called Rivervale. That is supposedly how "Boo-dee" came about and eventually evolved into its present name. Buddha is the home of the White River Baptist Church and Station Two of the Guthrie Township Volunteer Fire Department. Nearby Carlton Cemetery is the resting place of the remains of many pioneers of the area.

Geography

Buddha is located at 38°47′31"N 86°24′24"W, at the intersection of Lawrence County's Tunnelton and Old Buddha Roads. The East Fork of the White River

White River (Indiana)

The White River is a two-forked river that flows through central and southern Indiana and is the main tributary to the Wabash River. Via the west fork, considered to be the main stem of the river by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, the White River is long.-West Fork:The West Fork, long, is...

is a little over a mile south and west of town, while Guthrie Creek is a mile to the north and east. The local terrain is hilly with patches of forest filled with sinkholes and many caves and caverns.