The History of Buddhism in india

Spread of Buddhism — The History of Buddhism in india

Gautama Buddha (563 BC-483 BC)

Gautama Buddha was born into the royal dynasty of the Sakya clan, which ruled from Kapilvastu on the Indo-Nepal border in Lumbini.
Suddhodhana and Mahamaya were his parents. Suddhodhana was the Sakya clan’s chief. Buddha was also called ‘Sakyamuni’ as a result of this.
Mahamaya is Mahamaya’s mother (a princess from the Koshalan dynasty). Gautami was the one who gave birth to Siddharth Gautama, and she was the one who raised him. Mahaprajapati Gautami, Buddha’s foster mother, was the first woman to be ordained as a bhikkhuni.
Siddharth Gautama saw an old guy, a sick man, a dead body, and a monk while travelling. These events made him aware that the world is not without its sorrows, and he was determined to find a solution. At the age of 29, he left his home to become an ascetic. Mahabhishkramana is the name given to this event.
Buddha journeyed for seven years until attaining enlightenment at Uruvela at the age of 35 while meditating under a Peepal tree on the banks of the Niranjana River.
The tree became known as the ‘Bodhi tree,’ and the town became known as Bodh Gaya (in Bihar).
A demon named ‘Mara’ attempted to threaten Buddha by bringing hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, bad news, and finally, his three beautiful daughters. None of this, however, seemed to sway Buddha.
Siddhartha achieved enlightenment after 49 days and was granted the title of ‘Buddha,’ i.e., the enlightened. In Buddhism, this is referred to as Nirvana (Note: it is different from the Nirvana of Jainism).
After attaining enlightenment, he meditated for another 49 days.
Buddha presented his first sermon in the village of Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, near the city of Benares. This phenomenon is known as Dharma-Chakra-Pravartana (turning of the wheel of law). The first sermon at Sarnath is called ‘Dhamma Chakra Pravartan’, i.e., setting the wheel in motion.
Ananda and Upali were two of his closest disciples.
He died at the age of 80 in Kushinagara, Uttar Pradesh, in 483 BCE. The event is known as Mahaparinibban.

Doctrines of Buddha

Mahatma Buddha was first & foremost a teacher- He was an enlightened being who understood the problems & sufferings of masses to guide humanity onto the path of liberation from the sufferings. He put forward a number of important ideas that constitute Buddhist philosophy.

The core of Buddhist philosophy is comprised of four noble truths. These are the following:-

The world is full of sadness,
There is a reason for sadness.
Desire is the source of sadness.
It is possible to eliminate grief by eliminating desire.

Eightfold faith/Astangik marg was put forward by Mahatma Buddha to guide humanity on to the path of a higher living. Its components are:-

Right thought.
Right belief.
Right action.
Right memory.
Right meditation.
Right efforts.
Right speech.
Right means of livelihood.

Buddha put forward 10 teachings to ensure that the common masses remain away from wrong behaviour & they could get liberation from the cycle of birth & death. These 10 teachings are:-

Not to take what is not given
Not to lie.
Not to hurt living beings.
Not to indulge in evil behaviour.
Abstain from music & dance etc.
Abstain from eating at forbidden items.
Abstain from the use of a high broad bed.
Abstain from the use of ornaments.
Abstain from accepting the gift of gold or silver.
Abstain from alcoholic drinks.

According to Buddha, the path of salvation lies in “Knowledge”. The concept of salvation in Buddhism is known as “Nirvana”. A person can attain Nirvana during their lifetime itself by remaining away from wrong thoughts & actions & by eliminating all distress.

At death, the person attains “Mahapari Nirvana”.

The presence or non-existence of God was not addressed by Buddha. He kept silent when he was asked about the status of God.

When Buddha was asked about the manner in which Karmas (action, deeds) of one life affects the next in the absence of soul, then he gave the example of two candles, One glowing & One not glowing. He explained that if the glowing candle is carried near the non-glowing candle, it starts glowing. That’s how Karmas of one life affects the next.

This philosophy was put forward by Buddha in the form of the Doctrine of conditioned co-production.

Buddhism believed in the efficiency of the middle path. He was against the life of extreme luxury as well as against the life of self-mortification. Buddha allowed a person to consume meat provided the bird or the animal was not killed for that purpose.

Brahma-vihara

Karuna: to be responsive to others’ sorrows.
Maitri: remaining kind to all living beings while letting go of wrath, jealousy, and betrayal.
Upeksha: knowledge of the human being’s bounded existence with his acts, which create happiness and misery.
Mudita: to be glad for others’ happiness or development.

In short, Buddha offered Arya-Satya logic and then proposed solutions in the form of Ashtanga-Marga, Panchashila, and Brahma-Vihara to put an end to desires and attain Moksha.

Social Philosophy of Buddhism

Buddha was against the social rigidity practicing in Brahmanical order. He was strongly against priestly domination.
A new form of varna order was put forward by Mahatma Buddha in which the Kshatriyas were accorded 1st position, the Brahmans were put below Kshatriya.
The Buddhist social system is egalitarian in outlook. It believes in the equality of all mankind. It does not recognize the evils like untouchability.
Buddhist text contains the reference of chandala teachers.
It is mentioned that even kings used to sit in front of these chandala teachers to listen to their lectures.
The caste system was rejected by Buddhism when it emerged during later periods.
Buddhism recognized slavery. The slaves were not allowed to enter the sangha without the permission of their masters.
The attitude towards women was discriminatory. Buddha was not in favour of the entry of women into the sangha.
He allowed women to enter the sangha when his mother Prajapati Goutami & chief disciple Ananda continued to insist, but a number of restrictions were imposed on the behaviour of women in the sangha.
The Buddhist text contains the reference of these eight restrictions known as Garudhammas.

Buddhist Sangha

Slaves, insolvent and ailing people are not allowed.
Meals can be taken only once a day.
Monks rested only in the rainy season.
They can not to commit 64 types of crimes called Pathi Mokshas.
Monks had a yellow robe, needle, a piece of string, and a begging bowl.

Bodhisattvas

A Bodhisattva is a person on the path to Buddhahood. In both early Buddhist schools and modern Theravada Buddhism, a bodhisattva is someone who has resolved to become a Buddha and has received confirmation or prediction from a living Buddha that they will.

According to Mahayana Buddhism, a Bodhisattva is someone who has developed Bodhicitta, a spontaneous wish and compassionate thought to reach Buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings.

Schools of Buddhism

Hinayana

It follows the Doctrine of the Elders, which is based on Buddha’s original teachings.
It is also known as the “Abandoned Vehicle”, “Deficient Vehicle”, Theravada, or Stharvivada meaning “doctrine of elders”.
The Hinayana is viewed as a lower vehicle because its objective is individual salvation.
They don’t believe in idol worship.
The Hinayana, also known as Theravada, conforms to Buddha’s basic teachings, or the ancient and renowned way.
Hinayana believes in salvation via works, which means that everyone is responsible for their own salvation.
The Hinayana emphasises that self-discipline and meditation are necessary for personal redemption. It’s worth noting that Asoka was a fan of Hinayana.
Pali, the ordinary people’s language, was spoken by Hinayana scholars. The Hinayana ideal is Arhat, the one who seeks his own salvation.
The Hinayana places a strong focus on righteous action and the karma law.
Hinayana considers Buddha as a man with exceptional intelligence, but not as a deity, and therefore does not worship him; it is focused on Buddha’s actions.
The Hinayana scriptures are written in Pali and are based on the Tripitakas.
In Sri Lanka, Laos, Cambodia, and other Southeast Asian countries, Hinayana or Theravada practises are practised.

Mahayana

Mahayana follows the spirit of Buddha’s teachings, and its writings are known as Sutras and are written in Sanskrit.
This form of Buddhism was recognised during Kanishka’s reign. The Third Buddhist Council recognised these two forms of Buddhism.
It believes in faith-based salvation.
The Mahayana philosophy is founded on the symbolic meanings of Buddha’s life and personality.
The Mahayana’s goal is to bring salvation to everyone, which is why it is referred to as the bigger vehicle.
In Mahayana, the rule of karuna/kindness reigns supreme above the law of karma.
Mahayana upholds the teachings of the rescuer, the Bodhisattva, who is concerned with the salvation of others.
This group practises Idol Worship because it believes in Buddha’s divine qualities. The Bodhisattva Vehicle is another name for it.
Mahayana Buddhism can be found in China, India, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Taiwan, Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, and Mongolia. Tibet’s Buddhism is purely Mahayana in nature.
The essential values of the Mahayana doctrine are centred on the potential of universal emancipation from misery for all beings. As a result, it has earned the moniker “Great Vehicle.”
Mahayana Buddhism’s Bhakti teaching has become a defining feature. Mahayana Buddhism’s most illustrious exponent was “Nagarjuna”.

Vajrayana

Tibet was the birthplace of the cult. Vajrayana, often known as tantric Buddhism, means “Thunderbolt Vehicle.”
Its adherents believed that the only way to achieve redemption was to obtain the magical power known as Vajra.
Female goddesses are worshipped in this sect. The Taras was the main divinities of this new religion.
It is based on esoteric characteristics and a lengthy set of rites, as opposed to the other Buddhist schools.

Relevance of Buddhist teaching:

The ideas & philosophy put forward by Buddha have great relevance even today. These ideas were timeless & universal in appeal.
The desire was referred to as the source of all human sorrow.
In today’s world, desire has taken the form of greed & limitless human greed is responsible for most crimes like theft, bribe, scams, and others. Deforestation, environmental degradation & the problems like climate change are also the outcomes of human greed.
Because nature can satisfy the needs of humanity but not greed. Without the elimination of this unending distress, the sufferings of mankind can never be eliminated.
The eight-fold path & 10 teachings show the light to mankind in today’s world to live an ethical-moral life.
These are the highest ethical ideals to be followed by mankind.
The message of the middle path propagated by Buddha shall be pursued in the modern world because the behaviour of moderation is essential to living a balanced life.
Emphasize knowledge placed by Buddha has immense relevance for the present time because only the right knowledge can liberate humanity from the bondage of socio-cultural relations & economic sufferings.
The liberal progressive & egalitarian social outlook of Buddhism is most relevant today where the evils like communalism & casteism are affecting the lives of millions.

Factors Responsible for Popularity of Buddhism

After emerging in India during the closing decades of the 6th century B.C, Buddhism assumed the form of a world religion within a period of about 500 years. This remarkable success of Buddhism in India, as well as outside, was the outcome of the combined effect of a number of factors. Among all these factors the liberal progressive egalitarian & non-violent character of Buddhist teaching was most important.
Buddhism emerged as a light for common masses suffering from ignorance and tyranny of the Brahmanical order. It was free from complex rituals & ceremonies as well as priestly domination.
Buddhism was open to all it could be embraced by anyone without any difficulty. Because of this, foreigners could adopt it easily.
The teachings of Buddhism were functional to the socio-economic life of the age.
The personality of Mahatma Buddha was also crucial to the success of Buddhism. He was an enlightened being. He understood the sufferings of the masses & the true causes behind them.
Buddha was compassionate, and his words touched the heart of everybody.
Buddha travelled over a vast region & spread his teachings. Because of these factors, Buddhism had gained immense popularity during its life itself.
The charismatic personality of Buddha & the strength of his words continued to inspire the generation & transform Buddhism into a world religion.
The monastic system created by Buddha imparted an institutional framework to Buddhism. The sense of discipline & commitment to fundamental human value inculcated among the monks by these monasteries ensured the continuous spread of Buddhism & its survival over the ages.
Pali language had also played a significant influence in popularising Buddhist beliefs among the masses.
It was the language of the commonest section of the population & because of this the teachings of Buddha could be equally understood & absorbed by the people.
Royal patronage had also played an important role in the popularity of Buddhism. Many of the greatest rulers of the ancient age had popularized Buddhism through their active patronage. Among these rulers Ajatasatru, Kalashoka, Ashoka & Kaniska were foremost under the patronage of these rulers 4 Buddhist councils were held to organize Buddhist thought & to compile religious canon.
According to Ceylonese sources, “Dipvamsa” & “Mahavamsa” emperor, Ashoka had dispatched monks to various parts of Indian subcontinent & outside to propagate the message of Buddhism:
- Mahendra & Sanghmitra– Srilanka.
- Son & Uttara– Suvarna Bhumi.
- Majhanti– Kashmir.
- Maharakshit– The land of Yawans (Land of indo-greek).
- Dharmarakshit– W. India (Malwa region)
- Maha Dharmarakshit– Maharastra.
- Mahadev– Mysore.
The patronage extended by merchants & traders also contributed to the spread of Buddhism in a big way.
Buddhist monks used to travel along with the convoys of merchants & traders. During the days of rest on the way the monks used to spread the message of Buddhism among the villagers living close to trade routes, a result of this Buddhism moved into Afghanistan & Central Asia. In southeast Asia, a similar dynamic was responsible for the spread of Buddhism.

Decline Of Buddhism

Having flourished in India for almost 1000 years & assumed the character of world religion Buddhism witnessed a rapid decline beginning in the 4th century A.D & by the 10th century it was no longer a major religion in India.

Like its rise, the decline of Buddhism was also rapid while Buddhism continued to thrive beyond the Indian frontier, it lost its popularity in the land of its origin. The combined influence of a variety of causes contributed to Buddhism’s collapse.

Change in the character of fundamental ideas & philosophies of Buddhism had played an important role in its decline in India. The liberal progressive & egalitarian teachings of Buddha had gradually given way to rigid interpretations.
Buddha had emphasized on high ethical moral behaviour. But, during later periods Buddha was portrayed as God.
The monastic rules & regulations were no longer simpler. The monasteries had started accepting the gifts of gold & silver from the followers.
These deviations from the original path shown by Buddha greatly eroded the mass appeal of Buddhism. As a result of which, people started turning away.
The loss of royal patronage also played an important role in the decline of Buddhism.
The Imperial Guptas were the followers of Vaishnavism & under their patronage, Vaishnavism gained popularity. This was largely at the cost of Buddhism.
Abandonment of the Pali language in favour of Sanskrit by Mahayani carried Buddhism away from the commonest section of the population.
The decline in secondary & economic activities also constituted the downfall of Buddhism. The Rich Artisans, craftsmen, Merchant traders were big patrons of Buddhism. Beginning around the middle of the 5th century A.D the secondary economy had started declining. As a result of which Buddhism could no longer enjoy the patronage of these rich sectors of the population.
The degeneration of Buddhist Monasteries was also responsible for the decline of Buddhism. Once Buddhist monasteries started receiving the gifts of billion the evils associated with luxurious life become a part of Buddhism. Because of this, the Buddhist monasteries could no longer appreciate the concern of the masses. The High standing of Buddhist monks among the people underwent serious erosion.
Absence of any great personality like Buddha during the period when Buddhism was falling serious challenges also contributed to its decline. Buddhist monks had to face defeats at the hands of intellectuals like Shankaracharya.
Anti-Buddhist acts by monarchs like as Pushyamitra Sunga also contributed significantly to the fall. He announced the reward of 100 dinnar on the head of each Buddhist monk. The Buddhist monastery got attacked during his period and its symbols got destroyed.
The attacks of Hunas & Turks also played an important role because these monasteries had amassed huge wealth & they were easy targets.
The most crucial element in the demise of Buddhism was the revival of the Brahmanical religion. By the early centuries of the Christian era, the Brahmanical religion had reformed itself by absorbing all good elements of Buddhism, Jainism & other Heterodox sects.

Contribution of Buddhism to Indian Culture

The concept of Ahimsa was its main contribution. Later on, it became one of our country’s most cherished values.
The teachings of Buddhism had an impact on the development of Pali and other local languages.
It contributed much to Indian art and architecture. Sanchi, Bharhut, and Gaya’s stupas are wonderful works of art.

Literature

Early Buddhist literature is divided into two categories: canonical and non-canonical works. Canonical Texts are books that lay out the fundamental beliefs and ideals of a religion or group.

Tripitaka: Pitaka is a Sanskrit word that means “ basket.” The Sutta, Vinaya, and Abhidhamma are the three books that make up the Tripitaka.

The Sutta Pitaka is a dialogue-style collection of the Buddha’s lectures on a variety of doctrinal topics. Sutta (from Sanskrit sutra) refers to Buddhist texts thought to contain the words of the Buddha himself.

The Vinaya Pitaka is a collection of rules and regulations for monks and nuns in their monastic lives. It contains the Patimokkha, which is a list of monastic discipline infractions and atonements for these transgressions.

The Abhidhamma Pitaka is a philosophical analysis and systematisation of monks’ academic and teaching activities.

The three Pitakas are separated into Nikayas, or books. The Digha, Majjhima, Samyutta, Anguttara, and Khuddaka Nikayas, for example, are grouped into five Nikayas in the Sutta Pitaka.

Therigatha (a collection of short poems by Bhikkunis), Theragatha (verses attributed to senior monks) are respectively the eighth and ninth books of the Khuddaka Nikāya, which in turn is the fifth of the five divisions of the Pāli Sutta Piṭaka.

Non-canonical Buddhist texts

Milindapanha: Literal meaning in Pali – Milinda’s Questions around 100 BC, it was written. It includes a debate between Indo-Greek King Menander I or Milinda of Bactria and sage Nagasena, in which Milinda asks the sage Buddhist questions.
The Nettigandha or Nettipakarana (The Book of Guidance) is from the same time period and provides a comprehensive account of the Buddha’s teachings.
Commentaries on the Tripitaka include a 5th-century work by Buddhaghosha.
The Buddha’s first connected biographical account is found in the Nidanakatha (1st century).
The historical-mythical stories of the Buddha’s life, Buddhist councils, Maurya emperor Ashoka, Sri Lankan kings, and the arrival of Buddhism on the island are told in the Dipavamsa (4th–5th centuries) and Mahavamsa (5th century).

Architecture

The three main features of Buddhist architecture are stupas, chaityas, and viharas. During Mauryan administration, however, several pillars were erected in Buddha’s honour.

Stupas

The Stupas are the most important of all the early Buddhist structures. They include the Jataka tales as well as the first sculptural renderings of major episodes in the Buddha’s life. A Stupa is a brick dome-shaped holy burial mound used to contain Buddha’s artefacts or commemorate major Buddhist events and facts.

Chaityas (Prayer Hall)

A Buddhist prayer hall or shrine with a Stupa at one end where monks can offer congregational service is known as a Chaitya. The Chaitya is approached from one end, with a tiny Stupa on the other. Chaityas were frequently found within viharas or monastic complexes. Ellora, Ajanta, Bhaja, Bagh, Karle, Nasik, and Kanheri are some of the most remarkable Chaitya caves.

Viharas (Monasteries)

Viharas, or monasteries, were used to shelter Buddhist monks. The phrase primarily refers to a temporary refuge for itinerant monks during the rainy season in Ajivika, Hindu and Jain monastic literature. These monastery complexes were self-contained entities with a Chaitya hall and a Stupa — the main focus of prayer – attached to them.

Other Important terms related to Buddhism

Nirvana: Nirvana is the state of complete bliss synonymous with final liberation, which all Buddhists aspire for. The stage that comes before it is enlightenment. In enlightenment, a person becomes conscious of ultimate reality, and in nirvana, he or she becomes united with that reality.
Dhamma: It is a word for “fact,” “reality,” or “that which truly exists.” Dharma is another term that has the same meaning. Dhamma also refers to ethical rules that people should obey in order to fit into the right order of things. The Sanskrit term is dharma, while the Pali term is dhamma.
Anityavada: Buddhists believe that everything, including beings, actions, and qualities, is mortal and only exists for a limited time. Besides, nothing is permanent and is subject to change. As a result, the idea of soul equilibrium as a result of some immortal principle is rejected in Vedic culture.
Pratityasamutpada (the cause-and-effect concept): According to Buddhism, every event or action has a cause; the reason and its effect are two separate beings.
Paramita: To have crossed over to the other side. It denotes the attainment of virtue perfection. Mahayana Buddhism stressed the perfection of wisdom among the six perfections of early Buddhism (prajna). Discipline, giving, patience, effort, and meditation are the other paramitas.
Anatmavada: Anatmavada is a Buddhist philosopher who challenges the existence of the soul. According to Vedic philosophy, everything/everything possesses a constant and eternal soul. Buddhists, on the other hand, disagree with this viewpoint.
Śramaṇa– One who labours, toils, or exerts themselves (for some higher or religious purpose) or “seeker”, one who performs acts of austerity, ascetic.
Pravrajya– means “to go forth” and refers to when a layperson leaves home to live the life of a Buddhist renunciate among a community of bhikkhus.
Upasampadā (Pali) literally denotes “approaching or nearing the ascetic tradition.” In more common parlance, it specifically refers to the rite and ritual of ascetic vetting (ordination) by which a candidate, if deemed acceptable, enters the community as Upasampadān (ordained) and is authorised to undertake ascetic life.
Vassa– Theravada practitioners observe the Vassa, a three-month annual retreat. Vassa is a three-month festival that takes place during the rainy season, typically from July to October.
Uposatha– The Uposatha (Sanskrit: Upavasatha) is a Buddhist day of observance, Buddha taught that the Uposatha day is for “the cleansing of the defiled mind,” resulting in inner calm and joy.
Pavarana– assembly at the end of Vassa.
Posadha– the restoration of vows.
Arhat: A “worthy one” or saint is someone who has achieved Nirvana and has understood the concept of spiritual perfection. The Arhat will be extinguished when it dies. In Theravada Buddhism, it is mainly used.
Dana: A “giving” ritual involving food gifts to the monks who perform chanting, which is common in Theravada Buddhist family homes, particularly at the death of a loved one. One of the six perfections or paramitas.
Bodhi: The Sanskrit word for “enlightenment,” which is obtained by following the Eightfold Path, which implies a total lack of desires. Bodhi bestows the wisdom of perceiving ultimate truth, as well as the strength and desire to strive to alter the reality in specific ways, such as by assisting those in need.
Emptiness: Typically used to describe a state of enlightenment. The Buddhist expression for the inability to explain the ultimate truth. Emptiness should not be mistaken for another “place”; it is the same world or universe that people experience in this existence.

Jainism and Buddhism are compared and contrasted.

Similarities

Both stressed upon the importance of living a pure and virtuous life in order to achieve spiritual enlightenment. Both stressed the importance of Ahimsa or nonviolence.
Both of them disregarded the Vedas as an infallible source of knowledge.
Buddhism and Jainism were creations of intellectual, cultural, and social powers that emerged as a challenge to the established Brahmanical order in their times.
Both abandoned Sanskrit and adopted the languages of the people. The Jain scriptures were written in Prakrit, whereas the Buddhist texts were written in Pali, which was the common language at the time. Both were started by the Kshatriya caste, which made an appeal to the Vaishya and Shudra castes and awarded them social dignity.
As life’s ultimate goal, both seek Nirvana, or escape from the cycle of birth and death.
Both stressed the beliefs of soul transmigration as well as the consequences of Karmas on an individual’s future birth.
People developed new ways of dealing with life’s challenges as a result of their attacks on rituals, caste, Brahmana dominance, and sacrifices.
Both established Sanghas, or monastic orders, to preach their own religions and foster critical thinking as a means of achieving enlightenment.

Contrast between the two

In comparison to Buddhism, Jainism is a much older religion. It had twenty-four Tirthankaras, the latest of whom was Mahavira, according to Jain tradition. Mahavira is considered a reformer of established religion, while Buddha is considered the creator of a new one.
Buddhism believes that all living beings have a soul, whereas Jainism thinks that all elements of nature have a soul.
When it comes to nonviolence, Jainism emphasises it and believes in extremes, but Buddhism is more tolerant and allows its members to consume the flesh, which is a traditional diet for the people.
Jainism emphasised extreme asceticism to obtain Nirvana, but Buddhism offered salvation through the middle path.
Salvation is only possible after death in Jainism, while it is possible during one’s lifetime in Buddhism if one can detach oneself from worldly nature.
While Jainism defines Nirvana as independence from the body, Buddhism defines it as the end of the self and the end of the cycle of birth and death via detachment from worldly wants.
Jainism remained limited to India, whereas Buddhism spread throughout Asia, adapting to the local population’s customs. As a result, there’s little doubt that Buddhism and Jainism, which emerged at different dates but around the same time, had distinct qualities as well as strong affinities.