DECLINE OF BUDDHISM IN INDIA (Total 14 factors)

There are two categories: • Internal factors • External factors

Internal factors- 06 Reasons External factors-08 Reasons

Corruptions in Buddhist Sanghas: luxurious life style and Reform in Hinduism: Hinduism started to re-organize itself. To
enjoyment, receiving and saving valuable gifts like gold and give up the complex system of rites and rituals and make
silver made them greedy and materialistic, life of Hinduism simple and attractive.
indiscipline. No more the people were inclined towards
Buddhism. Intoxicated with alcoholic drinks, uncontrolled
in eating, and possessed wives, sons and daughters without
shame. Moreover, Buddhist viharas began to do business
and monks became industrialists.
Moral degeneration of Buddhist monks and nuns: The Inclusivist nature of Hinduism: Buddha as a Hindu incarnation
examples are from Chinese travelers Yuan Chwang and I- and accepted the principle of non-violence.
tsing, Kashmiri historian Kalhana, Kalidasa’s
Mälvikägnimitra, Bhavabhuti’s Mälati Mädhava, Shudrak’s
Mrichhakatika, Dandin’s Dashakumära-Charita,
Mahenravarman’s Matta-viläsa-prahsana and
Bhagavadajjukam and other anonymous writings such as
Chaturbhäni and Räshtrapäla-Pariprichha-Sutra.
Division among the Buddhists: like ‘Hinayana’, Patronage of Brahmanism: Pushyamitra Sunga (Asvamedha
‘Mahayana’, ‘Vajrayana’, ‘Tantrayana’ and ‘Sahajayana’ led sacrifice), Kanva, Satvahana.
Buddhism to lose its originality. Influence of tantricism
made people hate it. The simplicity of Buddhism was lost
and it was becoming complex.

Use of Sanskrit Language: Common language Pali and
Prakrit, replaced in the Fourth Buddhist Council during the
reign period of Kaniska. Sanskrit was a complex language,
hardly understood by common people.
Rifts in Buddhist Order: It was started just after the death
of Lord Buddha. Ex.- Buddhist Councils was the result of
different opinions. The earlier examples of Ananda,
Sariputta and Maudgalayana became very rare.
Image Worship: By the Mahayana Buddhists. Worship was
a violation of the Buddhist principles of opposing complex
rites and rituals of Brahminical worship. This paradox led
the people to believe that Buddhism is tending towards the
fold of Hinduism.
Role of Hindu Preachers & Incompetents scholars in Buddhism:
Kumarila Bhatta- Harsavardhan drove away the Brahmins from
the religious council held at Kanauj. These Brahmins, under
Kumarila Bhatta, fled to the Deccan. Under Bhatta’s leadership,
Brahmanism staged a come-back.
Adi Sankaracharya- Adi Sankaracharya also revived and
strengthened Hinduism. He defeated Buddhist scholars in
religious discourses in many places in course of his tour. Trend
continued by Ramanuja, Nimbarka, Ramananda etc.
Outer Attacks: Huna Invasion: The ‘Huna’ invasion jolted
Buddhism. Huna leaders like Tormana and Mihirakula opposed
non-violence completely. They killed the Buddhists residing in
the north-western part of India.
Muslim Invasion: Their invasions of India became regular and
repeated from 712 A.D. onwards. Such invasions forced the
Buddhist monks to seek asylum in Nepal and Tibet. In the end.
Buddhism died away in India, the land of its birth. The
destruction of Nalanda in 1197 AD and of Vikramashila in 1203
AD by Muhammad Ghori marks the end of Buddhism in India.

Emergence of Rajputs: Kings of such dynasties as Bundela,

Chahamana, Chauhan, Rathore etc. were militant rulers and
loved warfare. They could not tolerate the Buddhists for their
message of non-violence. The Buddhists feared persecution
from these Rajput rulers and fled from India.
Lose of Royal Patronage: After Asoka, Kaniska and Harsavardhan
only. Royal patronage works magically for the spread of any faith.

L.M. Joshi, Studies in the Buddhistic Culture of India, 2nd rev. ed., Delhi: MotilalBanarsidass, 1977
D. C. Ahir, Buddhism Declined in India: How and Why? Delhi, India: B. R. Publishing Corporation, 2005
C. D. Naik, “Rise and Decline of Buddhism: History,” in C. D. Naik (ed.), Buddhism and Dalits, Social Philosophy and Traditions, Delhi: Kalpaz Publications,
2010
K. T. S. Sarao, The Decline of Buddhism in India, New Delhi, India: Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers, 2012
Major Alexander Cunningham, The Bhilsa Topes or Buddhist Monuments of Central India: A Brief Historical Stretch of the Rise, Progress, and Decline of
Buddhism with an Account of the Opening and Examination of Various Groups of Topes around India, London: Smith, Elder and CO.