"Siddhartha" is a novel by the German-Swiss author Hermann Hesse, published in 1922. The story takes place in ancient India and follows the spiritual journey of the titular character, Siddhartha, who is on a quest to find enlightenment.
Siddhartha is a young Brahmin who is dissatisfied with his life and feels a calling to leave his comfortable existence and seek spiritual enlightenment. He leaves his family and his privileged life, and embarks on a journey of self-discovery. He meets a wandering ascetic, Govinda, who becomes his closest companion throughout the journey.
Siddhartha starts off by joining a group of ascetics who practice extreme self-denial and meditation. However, he soon realizes that this path does not lead to enlightenment and decides to pursue a different approach. He then meets a wealthy merchant, Kamaswami, and becomes his apprentice. He becomes wealthy and successful, but he still feels a sense of emptiness.