Gautama Buddha was born as a prince belonging to which gana rajya (clan based republic or oligarchy) of ancient northern India?

Introduction / Context:
Before he became known as the Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama was born into a ruling family in a small republic or clan based polity in the Himalayan foothills. Many ancient Indian states of that era were gana rajyas, where power was shared among leading families rather than vested in a single king. Knowing which particular gana rajya the Buddha came from is a common question in ancient Indian history and Buddhist studies.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- The question asks about the gana rajya to which Gautama Buddha belonged. - The options are Shibi, Shakya, Saurasena and Shabara. - We assume the widely accepted biographical details about the Buddha's early life.

Concept / Approach:
Traditional accounts agree that the Buddha was born in the Lumbini region as the son of Suddhodana, a leader of the Shakya clan. The Shakyas organised their political life as a gana rajya with a council of elders. The Buddha is therefore often called Shakyamuni, meaning sage of the Shakyas. The other names listed in the options refer to different peoples or regions and are not directly linked with his birth and upbringing.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Gautama Buddha's personal name was Siddhartha and he belonged to the Shakya clan. Step 2: Note that his father, Suddhodana, was a chief or leading figure of the Shakyas. Step 3: Understand that the Shakyas organised themselves as a gana rajya, meaning a clan based republic or oligarchy. Step 4: Recognise that the title Shakyamuni used for the Buddha literally means "sage of the Shakyas". Step 5: Therefore, among the options, Shakya is the only correct gana rajya. Step 6: The other names do not match the commonly accepted political affiliation of the Buddha's family.

Verification / Alternative check:
Buddhist texts and modern historical summaries consistently identify Lumbini, Kapilavastu and the Shakya clan as the setting of the Buddha's early life. Relics, inscriptions and pilgrimage maps also use the name Shakya and explain the title Shakyamuni in this light. No trustworthy source suggests that he belonged to the Shibi, Saurasena or Shabara polities, which confirms that Shakya is the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Shibi: Associated with a legendary king in Indian literature, not with the historical Buddha's clan.
Saurasena: Refers to a region and people associated with Mathura and surrounding areas, not with the Shakya homeland near the Himalayan foothills.
Shabara: A name for tribal or forest dwelling peoples in some texts, not the ruling gana rajya of the Buddha's family.

Common Pitfalls:
Because several clan names from ancient India sound similar, students sometimes hesitate between Shibi and Shakya. Another pitfall is to forget the meaning of the title Shakyamuni, which directly hints at his clan. Remembering that the Buddha came from the Shakyas and was often called the sage of the Shakyas helps fix this fact firmly.

Final Answer:
Gautama Buddha belonged to the gana rajya of the Shakya clan.