History of Buddhism in India

Buddhism is an ancient Indian religion and philosophy that began in the Kingdom of Magadha, now part of Bihar, India. It is based on the teachings of Gautama Buddha, who lived in the 6th or 5th century BCE. He was known as a "Buddha" or "Awakened One." Buddhist beliefs spread beyond Northern India even during the Buddha's lifetime.

In the 3rd century BCE, during the time of Mauryan Emperor Ashoka, the Buddhist community divided into two groups: the Mahāsāṃghika and the Sthaviravāda. These groups later grew into three major branches of Buddhism that exist today: the Theravada in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia, the Mahayana in the Himalayas and East Asia, and the Vajrayana in Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan.

By around the 7th century CE, Buddhism began to lose influence in India after the fall of the Gupta Empire. The last major empire to support Buddhism was the Pala Empire, which ended in the 12th century. After invasions by Turkic Muslims, Buddhism mostly disappeared from India, except in some areas like western Tibet and parts of south India.

In modern times, Buddhism has seen revivals in India. Movements such as the Maha Bodhi Society, the Vipassana movement, and the Dalit Buddhist movement led by B. R. Ambedkar have helped bring Buddhism back to life. With the arrival of the Tibetan diaspora and the Tibetan government in exile after the Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1950, Tibetan Buddhism has also grown in India. Today, India is home to about 8.4 million Buddhists.

Background

Gautama Buddha

Main article: The Buddha

The Buddha was born to a leader in a place called Kapilavastu named Suddhodana. He taught a way of living that avoided extreme habits, called the Middle Way. This way focused on self-restraint and kindness.

According to stories, Gautama Buddha found deep understanding under a special tree in Bodh Gaya, India. He later shared his teachings with others in a place called Sarnath, forming a group of monks known as the Saṅgha. For many years, he traveled around northern India teaching others.

Adherents

People who followed Buddhism called themselves different names, such as Saugata or Sakyaputto. Scholars note that some people outside the Buddhist community used the term Bauddha to describe Buddhists.

Early developments

The Buddha did not choose a successor and asked his followers to follow his teachings. The group of followers, called the Sangha, held meetings to agree on Buddhist ideas and rules.

The first meeting happened at Rājagṛha, led by Mahākāśyapa. They talked about the Buddha’s teachings and rules for monks. The second meeting at Vaiśālī discussed and banned some unclear monastery rules. A later meeting, called by Emperor Aśoka, aimed to remove monks who joined just because of support from the king. Another meeting happened later in Kashmir.

Buddhism split into different groups soon after the Buddha passed away. The main split was between the Mahāsāṃghika group and the Sthaviravāda group. From these came schools like Theravāda, which is practiced in places like Sri Lanka and Thailand, and Dharmaguptaka, which spread to China and other areas.

Buddhism grew because it appealed to merchants, unlike some other religions at the time. It spread through trade routes, especially the silk route, reaching many parts of Asia.

Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan Empire turned to Buddhism after a tough battle. He supported Buddhism strongly, building important places and sending messengers to share the teachings. His empire covered much of India and parts of Afghanistan.

Later, rulers like the Kushans also supported Buddhism, building monasteries and spreading the teachings through trade routes.

Middle period

The first half of this time period saw Buddhist groups becoming more separate from everyday people as their big centers tried to become more self-sufficient. Buddha images started being used at these monastery sites. Politically, much of North India was ruled by the Gupta Empire, and Southern areas by the Vakataka dynasty. Both kingdoms supported Buddhism along with other religions, and the Vakataka king Harishena helped build the Ajanta Caves.

Mahayana Buddhism started to become more important in India around the fifth century CE. It added new ideas to early Buddhism, such as worshipping many holy beings called Bodhisattvas, not just the Buddha himself. Important Bodhisattvas included Avalokiteśvara, Tara, and Manjushri. The traveler Faxian noted that Mahayana Buddhists lived in the same monasteries as early Buddhists. An early thinker named Nagarjuna helped shape Mahayana ideas, and he likely lived in the first or second centuries in South India.

The earliest Buddha images were carved in Mathura and later spread to places like Sarnath, Sravasti, and Kausambi. These images showed scenes from the Buddha's life and were linked to early Buddhist schools. It wasn't until the fifth century that images began including Mahayana ideas, showing not just the Buddha but also Bodhisattvas and other holy beings.

During the time of the Pala Empire (around 730 to 1130), large Buddhist centers grew in areas now known as Bihar and Bengal, with strong support from kings. Tantric Buddhism was very important in this area and spread to Tibet. Five big centers stood out: Vikramashila, Nalanda, Somapura, Odantapurā, and Jaggadala. These centers worked together, and scholars often moved between them. Mahayana Buddhism reached its height during this time, and many foreign travelers came to India to learn, especially from China and Tibet.

Decline

Further information: Decline of Buddhism in the Indian subcontinent

The decline of Buddhism happened for many reasons. Kings usually treated all important religions fairly, supporting them with buildings, land, and money. Buddhism needed this support because monks depended on donations. Over time, changes in leadership and wars interrupted this support.

As new Hindu traditions grew, especially with the Gupta dynasty, Buddhist monasteries lost some of their land and influence. By the 11th century, Muslim invasions brought further changes. These invasions damaged many Buddhist sites and altered the support systems that had helped Buddhism thrive.

These changes led to Buddhism mostly disappearing from many parts of India, though small communities remained in places like the Himalayas and Nepal. Some Buddhist traditions continue today in these areas and in places like Tibet.

Revival

Maha Bodhi Society

The modern revival of Buddhism in India began in the late nineteenth century, led by groups such as the Maha Bodhi Society. These groups were influenced by ideas from South Asia and the West. An important leader was Anagarika Dharmapala, who founded the Maha Bodhi Society in 1891. The society focused on protecting important Buddhist places like Bodh Gaya and its temple. They also built new temples and centers, such as one at Sarnath where Buddha gave his first teaching.

After India gained independence, Buddhist sites became important for building national unity. The government supported these sites, especially for events like the 2,500th Buddha Jayanti in 1956. Important Buddhist thinkers included Rahul Sankrityayan, Dharmanand Kosambi, and others. The government continued to support Buddhist pilgrimage sites as a way to honor India's heritage and connect with other countries.

Dalit Buddhist movement

Main articles: Dalit Buddhist movement, Navayana, and Twenty-two vows of Ambedkar

In the 1950s, B. R. Ambedkar, a leader for people from lower castes, encouraged many in India to become Buddhist. This movement was strongest in Maharashtra, where many people joined. Ambedkar's version of Buddhism focused on social change and fairness. Important groups from this movement include the Buddhist Society of India and the Triratna Buddhist Community.

Tibetan Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism grew in India during the modern era, especially after many Tibetans fled to India in 1959. The Dalai Lama and many followers settled in places like Dharamsala and Bylakuppe. These communities helped bring back Buddhist traditions in India and built many temples and schools. Important leaders like the Karmapa and Penor Rinpoche also helped grow Tibetan Buddhism in India.

Vipassana movement

The Vipassana movement is a modern way of practicing Buddhist meditation. In India, the most well-known group is the Vipassana Research Institute, started by S.N. Goenka. Goenka offered ten-day meditation courses that many people attend. This form of meditation has spread to many countries around the world. In 2008, a large meditation hall called the Global Vipassana Pagoda was completed near Mumbai.

Culture

Indian Buddhists have many different communities. The Marathi Buddhists, including the Mahar, are the largest Buddhist group in India. Other communities live in the Himalayan hills, such as the Sherpas, Bhutias, Lepchas, Tamangs, and Yolmos. There are also smaller groups like the Beda people in Ladakh, known for their music, and Bengali Buddhists in West Bengal and Tripura.

Buddhists in India celebrate many joyful festivals. Ambedkar Jayanti honors B.R. Ambedkar, a leader who helped protect rights for all people. It is celebrated each year on April 14. Dhammachakra Pravartan Day marks the day when Ambedkar and many others chose to follow Buddhism, celebrated on October 14 at Deekshabhoomi. Buddha Purnima is a special day for both Buddhists and others, remembering the teachings of Gautama Buddha. During this time, many people visit temples, wear white, and enjoy quiet moments of thought.

Communities

• Marathi Buddhists (including Mahar)
• Sherpas
• Bhutias
• Lepchas
• Tamangs
• Yolmos
• Beda people
• Bengali Buddhists
• Bhotiya
• Bhutia
• Bodh people
• Bugun
• Chakma people
• Chugpa tribe
• Gurung people
• Khamba people
• Khamti people
• Khamyang people
• Lepcha people
• Lishipa tribe
• Na people
• Rakhine people
• Sherpa people
• Tai Phake people
• Tamang people

Festivals

Branches

Buddhism in India has two main groups. The largest group is called Navayana Buddhism, which makes up 87% of Buddhists in India. Most of these people changed their religion from other groups, especially to move away from unfair treatment in Hinduism. The other 13% belong to traditional Buddhist communities found in the northeast and northern Himalayan regions, including Theravada, Mahayana, Vajrayana, and others.

Demographics

The number of people who follow Buddhism in India has gone down a little over time. In 1961, about 0.74% of India followed Buddhism, but by 2011, this dropped to 0.70%. Some places where the Buddhist community got smaller include Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Delhi, and Punjab.

In 2011, there were about 8.4 million Buddhists in India. The state of Maharashtra has the most Buddhists, making up 5.81% of its people. Most of these Buddhists are from a group called the Mahar community. Many Buddhists in India today come from communities that were once known as Scheduled Castes, and their numbers have grown a lot in recent years.

Notable figures

Buddhism has many important figures who helped spread its teachings. Śāntarakṣita was an abbot in the 8th century who helped Buddhism grow in Tibet. Nagarjuna, who lived in the 2nd century, started the Madhyamaka school of Mahayana Buddhism. Atiśa, from the 11th century, played a big role in sharing Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism across Asia, from Tibet to Sumatra.

Other well-known Buddhist leaders include Buddhabhadra, the first abbot of the Shaolin Temple, and Bodhidharma, who is said to have started Zen Buddhism in China. There were many more important monks and teachers who helped shape Buddhist thought and practice over the centuries.