What was the real birth name of Gautama Buddha before he attained enlightenment and became known as the Buddha?

Introduction / Context:
This question tests basic knowledge of ancient Indian religious history, specifically the early life of Gautama Buddha. Competitive examinations often ask about the original or birth names of important spiritual leaders and reformers. Knowing that Gautama Buddha was born as Prince Siddhartha helps learners place Buddhism correctly in the timeline of Indian history and understand that he began life as a royal prince before renouncing worldly life.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question asks about the real birth name of Gautama Buddha.
• Four main options are provided: Siddhartha, Mahendra, Shree Dutt, and Vishal Dutt, along with one extended form option in the list.
• We assume standard school level history information about Buddhism and its founder.

Concept / Approach:
The approach is purely factual recall. Learners need to know that the person who later became famous as Gautama Buddha was originally born as Siddhartha. His full traditional name is often given as Siddhartha Gautama or Siddhattha Gotama in Pali. After achieving enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, he became known as the Buddha, meaning the Enlightened One. The task is simply to match this historical fact with the correct option.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Buddhism was founded by Gautama Buddha, who was born as a prince in the Shakya clan. Step 2: Remember that the birth name of this prince was Siddhartha, often written as Siddhartha Gautama. Step 3: Compare this remembered fact with the given options in the question. Step 4: Identify that the option which exactly matches the birth name is Siddhartha. Step 5: Conclude that Siddhartha is the correct answer and mark that option.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can cross check this information from any standard history text book on ancient India, from NCERT style resources, or from introductions to Buddhism. All reliable sources state that Buddha was born as Siddhartha, son of King Suddhodana and Queen Maya, in Lumbini. Later he came to be called Gautama Buddha based on his family lineage and his status as the Enlightened One. No reputable historical reference ever uses Mahendra, Shree Dutt, or Vishal Dutt as his birth name, so this confirms the correctness of Siddhartha.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Mahendra: This is a common Indian name but has no standard historical link as the birth name of Gautama Buddha, so it is incorrect.
Shree Dutt: This name suggests a person devoted to a deity but is not mentioned in Buddhist texts as the original name of the Buddha, so it is wrong.
Vishal Dutt: Again, this is a generic sounding name without any historical basis in Buddhist literature, therefore it is not correct.
Siddhartha Gautama: This extended form includes the correct core name Siddhartha, but the question usually expects the simple birth name, which is commonly written as Siddhartha alone. The most precise single word answer among the options is Siddhartha.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to confuse the title Buddha with a personal name. Buddha is a title meaning the Enlightened One, not the given name at birth. Learners may also be distracted by long or impressive sounding names that look formal. Another pitfall is to overthink and choose a longer variant like Siddhartha Gautama when the question simply asks for the real name. Examinations often use similar sounding Indian names to confuse students, so one must stick to what standard history clearly states rather than guessing based on how attractive an option appears.

Final Answer:
The real birth name of Gautama Buddha was Siddhartha.