Rise and Fall of Buddhism in India
Jan 2019
Buddha - a Short life story...
About 2500 years ago, In a place called Lumbini, present day Nepal (which was then part of India), Prince Siddhartha was born to King Shudodhana, a monarch of Licchavi dynasty. Soon after his birth, he was professed to be a great ascetic and sage by his astrologer. His father afterall not wanting his son to become a wandering monk instead of his successor to the throne decided that he will always keep his son isolated from any sorrow and instead showering him in comfort and pleasures so he doesnt ever 'feel' the need to take to a ascetics life.
This went on for several years until prince Siddhartha now a young prince one day decided to ask his charioteer named Channa to take him around the kingdom on a ride. During this ride the young prince saw several people in pain and misery. This was a turning point in his life -- a sort of moment of Truth -- since he had never before seen or experienced any such human conditions; and he decided that he will not rest until he finds out the reason for all the pain and suffering in the world. And thus began the journey of Siddhartha who one night, while his family slept, renounced his family, kingdom and comforts to undergo severe penances, to become enlightened and come to be known as Gautama Buddha. Eventually Buddha would go on to lay foundations of a monastic order of monks breaking caste lines and barriers and living austere lives under the code of 8 principles prescribing moderation and the 'middle path' in any activity (as opposed to going to extremes of any kind). Pretty soon, this order became a rage amongst the masses who were dis-illusioned by the very ritual-oriented Vedic system of Hindu society which at that time was dominated by ritualistic religious practices like animal sacrifice on massive scale; disenchanted they were drawn to the simple agnostic path of 'non-violence' peace and harmony.
Thus came about the first missionary religion of the world, viz., Buddhism.
It was born in India and through patronage of successive Kings & monarchs over centuries spread out to various parts of the world.
As a result, there was a time when Hinduism almost died in India..starting with Emperor Ashoka of Maurya dynasty in about 268 BC..who converted to Buddhism as state religion after the very violent and bloody military campaign against the republic of Kalinga (present day state of Orissa in India).
After that several other kings drawn to the principles of non-violence, followed suite (conversion to Buddhism) between 3rd century BC to about 7th century AD. By then India was mostly ruled by Buddhist kings/emperors..during this period Buddhism spread globally (in fact Buddhism is the first missionary religion of the world).. in India which geographically at that time was from current day Afghanistan to Cambodia..was mostly Buddhist.
However by the 7th century AD slowly Buddhism declined in India (the land of its own birth) as Buddhist missionaries and monasteries became corrupt and deviated from original principles of Buddha which led people to become disillusioned.
There was a sort of Renaissance in Hinduism led by Adi Shankarcharya
In this process, Vaishnavism - a sect of Hinduism that worships Lord Sri Krishna as the Supreme personality of Godhead also got a chance to flourish.
Vaishnavism received a philip under the guidance and tutelage of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in 14th century)..
It is widely believed that Buddha, Adi Shankara and Sri Chaitanya are verily reincarnations of the same Infinite God proving what Sri Krishna said in Bhagavad Gita..chap 4, verse 7...
यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत |
अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम् || 4.7||
yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati bhārata
abhyutthānam adharmasya tadātmānaṁ sṛjāmy aham
Translation: Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion – at that time I descend Myself.
Thus you can see that in India, its a practice through ages to question the validity and relevance of rituals and practices of religions and if they are not in alignment with eternal customs of the Indian society which has always prioritized Spiritual knowledge as higher than material wealth and prowess, they are discarded to make room for a new religious tradition.
In the same vein, any religious path that doesn't encourage questioning becomes ossified very soon into a cult.
Aren't we all fortunate as those of Indian origin that India is the only land where spiritual seeking and questioning was always encouraged?I
Infact mahavakyas (literally means 'Great statement' in Sanskrit) like
एकम् सत् विप्रह बहुदा वदन्ति
ekam sat vipraha bahuda vadanti
Translation: Truth is One, sages call it differently
have led to birth and acceptance of multiple faiths in the same society, is a phenomenon unique to India and its culture..
Now this is widely accepted in the west too where people are very much disillusioned with other rigid monotheistic religions and are seeking out Love, Peace, Truth and Freedom in their existence.
Swami Vivekananda led the path of this movement in 1893 when he attended the Parliament of Religions and for the first time in modern history led the confluence and cross-pollination of Eastern and Western Spiritual thoughts and philosophies.
Hari Om
Hare Krishna
