Buddhism in India

Last Updated: October 2022

For Prelims: Origin of Buddhism, Important Buddhist Sites, Principles of Buddhism, Major Buddhist Texts,
Schools of Buddhism, Swadesh Darshan Scheme, PRASHAD Scheme, Dekho Apna Desh Initiative, UNESCO
Buddhist Heritage Sites

For Mains: Spread of Buddhism in Ancient India, Significance of Buddhist Councils, Contribution of
Buddhism in Indian Culture, Buddhism as way of Soft Diplomacy, Initiatives taken to Promote Buddhism in
India

Where does the Origin of Buddhism Lie?

Buddhism started in India over 2,600 years ago as a way life that had a potential of
transforming a person.
It is one of the important religions of South and South-Eastern Asian countries.
The religion is based upon the teachings, life experiences of its founder Siddhartha Gautam,
born in circa 563 BCE.
He was born into royal family of Sakya clan who ruled from Kapilvastu, in Lumbini
which is situated near the Indo-Nepal Border.
At the age of 29, Gautama left home and rejected his life of riches and embraced a lifestyle of
asceticism, or extreme self-discipline.
After 49 consecutive days of meditation, Gautama attained Bodhi (enlightenment)
under a pipal tree at Bodhgaya, a village in Bihar.
Buddha gave his first sermon in the village of Sarnath, near the city of Benares in UP. This
event is known as Dharma-Chakra-Pravartana (turning of the wheel of law).
He died at the age of 80 in 483 BCE at a place called Kushinagara a town in UP. The event
is known as Mahaparinibban.

What are the Tenets of Buddhism?

Buddha asked his followers to avoid the two extremes of indulgence in worldly
pleasure and the practice of strict abstinence and asceticism.
He ascribed instead the 'Madhyam Marg' or the middle path which was to be
followed.
According to him everyone was responsible for their own happiness in life, stressing
upon the individualistic component of Buddhism.
The main teachings of Buddhism are encapsulated in the basic concept of four noble truths or
ariya-sachchani and eightfold path or astangika marg.
Four noble truths:
Suffering (dukkha) is the essence of the world.
Every suffering has a cause – Samudya.
Suffering could be extinguished – Nirodha.
It can be achieved by following the Atthanga Magga (Eight Fold Path).
 Eight-Fold Paths: It consists of various interconnected activities related to knowledge,
conduct, and meditative practices.
Right view
Right intention
Right speech
Right action
Right livelihood
Right mindfulness
Right effort
Right concentration
Dukkha and its extinction are central to the Buddha’s doctrine. Suffering is not limited to the actual
pain but also to the potential to experience these things.
The essence of Buddhism is the attainment of enlightenment. It points to a way of life that
avoids self-indulgence and self-denial. There is no supreme god or deity in Buddhism.
The ultimate goal of Buddha’s teaching was the attainment of nibbana which was not a place
but an experience, and could be attained in this life.
Buddha also established code of conduct both for the monastic order and the laymen to follow
which are also known as the Five Precepts or Pancasil and refrain from them.
Violence
stealing
sexual misconduct
lying or gossip
taking intoxicating substances e.g. drugs or drink

What are the Major Buddhist Texts?

The Buddha's teaching was oral. He taught for 45 years, adapting the teaching to suit the
group he was addressing.
The Sangha memorized the teachings, and there were group recitations at festivals and
special occasions.
The teachings were rehearsed and authenticated at the First Council and were divided
in Three Pitakas in 483 BC.
His teachings were written down around 25 B.C.E. in Pali.
Three Pitakas
The Vinaya Pitaka consists of rules of conduct and discipline applicable to the
monastic life of the monks and nuns.
The Sutta Pitaka consists of the main teaching or Dhamma of Buddha. It is divided
into five Nikayas or collections:
Digha Nikaya
Majjhima Nikaya
Samyutta Nikaya
Anguttara Nikaya
Khuddaka Nikaya
The Abhidamma Pitaka is a philosophical analysis and systematization of the
teaching and the scholarly activity of the monks.
Other important Buddhist texts include Divyavadana, Dipavamsa, Mahavamsa, Milind
Panha etc.

What Role did the Buddhist Councils Play?

Buddhist Councils marked important turning points in the early Buddhism.

These councils resulted in sectarian clashes and the eventual Great Schism that resulted in
the two major schools, Theravada and Mahayana.
In total, 4 major Buddhist councils were convened:
First Council
It was held soon after the Mahaparinirvan of the Buddha, around 483 BC
under the patronage of King Ajatshatru and was presided by Mahakasyapa, a
monk.
The council was held in the Sattapani cave at Rajgriha.
 The council was held with the purpose of preserving Buddha’s teachings (Sutta) and
rules for disciples.
During this council, the teachings of Buddha were divided into
three Pitakas.
Second Council
It was held in Vaishali, a village in Bihar under the patronage of the king
Kalasoka in 383 BC. It was presided by Sabakami.
Third Council
It was held in 250 BC in Patliputra under the patronage of Ashoka and was
presided by Moggaliputta Tissa.
Forth Council
It was held in 72 AD at Kundalvana, Kashmir. It was presided by Vasumitra,
while Asvaghosa was his deputy under the patronage of King Kanishka of Kushan
Empire.
Buddhism was divided into two sects namely Mahayan and Hinayan.

What are the Different Schools of Buddhism?

Mahayana:
It is one of the two main schools of Buddhism.
The term Mahayana is a Sanskrit word which literally means "Great Vehicle".
It believes in the heavenliness of Buddha and Idol worship of Buddha and
Bodhisattvas embodying Buddha Nature.
It originated in northern India and Kashmir and then spread east into Central Asia,
East Asia and some areas of Southeast Asia.
Buddhist schools embedded in China, Korea, Tibet and Japan belong to the
Mahayana tradition.
Hinayana
Literally Lesser vehicle, It believes in the original teaching of Buddha or Doctrine
of elders.
It does not believe in Idol worship and tries to attain individual salvation through
self discipline and meditation.
Theravada is a Hinayana sect.
Theravada
It is the most ancient branch of extant Buddhism today.
It remains closest to the original teachings of the Buddha.
Theravada Buddhism developed in Sri Lanka and subsequently spread to the rest of
Southeast Asia.
It is the dominant form of religion in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and
Thailand.
Vajrayana
Vajrayana means “The Vehicle of the Thunderbolt”, also known as tantric Buddhism.
This Buddhist school developed in India around 900 CE.
It is grounded on esoteric elements and very complex set of rituals compared with the
rest of the Buddhist schools.
Zen
It is a school of Mahayana Buddhism that originated in China during the Tang
dynasty as the Chan school of Chinese Buddhism in and later developed into various
schools.
It spread to Japan in 7th century C.E.
Meditation is the most distinctive feature of this Buddhist tradition.

How did Buddhism Spread in Ancient India?

Buddha had two kinds of disciples – monks (bhikshus) and lay worshippers (upasikas).
The monks were organized into the Sangha for the purpose of spreading his teachings.
The Sangha was governed on democratic lines and was empowered to enforce
discipline among its members.
Owing to the organised efforts made by the Sangha, Buddhism made rapid progress in North
 India even during Buddha’s life time.
After the death of Buddha, his followers traversed on his path of meditation and roamed
throughout the countryside.
For 200 years Buddhism remained overshadowed by their Hindu counterparts until the advent of
Great Mauryan King – Ashoka.
After the bloodbath in his Kalinga conquest, emperor Ashoka decided to give up the policy
of worldly conquest and adopted Dhamma conquest.
Ashoka during the third Buddhist council dispatched various Buddhist missions to different
areas such as Gandhara, Kashmir, Greece, Sri Lanka, Burma (Myanmar), Egypt, and
Thailand.
Through his missionary effort Ashoka spread Buddhism into West Asia and Ceylon. Thus a local
religious sect was transformed into a world religion.

What is the Contribution of Buddhism to Indian Culture?

The concept of ahimsa was its chief contribution. Later, it became one of the cherished
values of our nation.
Its contribution to the art and architecture of India was notable. The stupas at Sanchi,
Bharhut and Gaya are wonderful pieces of architecture.
It promoted education through residential universities like those at Taxila, Nalanda and
Vikramasila.
The language of Pali and other local languages developed through the teachings of
Buddhism.
It had also promoted the spread of Indian culture to other parts of Asia.

How has Buddhism Acted as a Way of Soft Diplomacy?

Share of Cultural and Moral Values: The Buddhist faith, due to its emphasis on peaceful
co-existence and its wide pan-Asian presence, lends itself well to soft-power diplomacy.
Buddhism in India as a Soft Power is different from the conventional sense of the term.
India talks about shared cultural development instead of export of culture.
The values of peace, accommodation, inclusiveness, and compassion that are part
of our societies can be attributed to the influence of the teachings of Lord Buddha and
Buddhism.
Strengthening Ties with Asian Countries: The ideals of Buddhism continue to intersect with
the political and economic contexts of many Asian nations with 22% of the world’s
population.
Buddhism can act as an intensifying factor for Asian emotional bonding and
connectivity as it is embedded into their “nationalistic” thinking and actions.
India has in its favour at the moment an abundance of resources by way of pilgrimage
sites, the presence of the Dalai Lama, and international goodwill, as well as the right
intentions.
International Buddhist Conclave: The Ministry of Tourism organises Buddhist Conclave every
alternate year (since 2004) with the objective of promoting India as a Buddhist Destination and
major markets around the globe.
In 2018, the conclave witnessed the participation of the delegates from Bangladesh,
Indonesia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and 29 other countries.
Cultural Exchange Programme with Mongolia: Under the Cultural Exchange Programme,
there are 10 dedicated ICCR scholarships for studying ‘Tibetan Buddhism’ allocated for
Mongolians to study in specialized institutes.
The Ministry of Culture is likely to complete reprinting of about 100 sets of sacred
Mongolian Kanjur (a Buddhist canonical text considered to be the most important
religious text in Mongolia) for distribution in the main centers of Buddhism in Mongolia.
Steps have also been taken to facilitate the visa and travel of Buddhist monks from
Mongolia within India.
More recently in June 2022, four Holy Relics of Lord Buddha (Kapilavastu Relics) were
taken from India to Mongolia for an 11-day exposition to coincide with Mongolian
Buddha Purnima celebrations.
Kushinagar International Airport: The Kushinagar Airport in Uttar Pradesh became the latest
 entrant in India's list of international Airports.
It is expected to provide seamless connectivity to people from South east and East
Asian countries for Buddhist Pilgrimage Tourism.
The inauguration of Kushinagar International airport is set to be a landmark in the India-
Sri Lanka relations.

What Initiatives have been Taken to Promote Buddhist Tourism in India?

Buddhist Circuit: Under the Swadesh Darshan scheme the Ministry of Tourism has identified
Buddhist Circuit as one of the thirteen thematic circuits for development under the Swadesh
Darshan scheme.
Under the scheme, 5 projects of Rs 325.53 crore have been sanctioned for Buddhist circuit
development.
A Buddhist Circuit Train FAM Tour has also been organised as part of the Dekho Apna
Desh initiative.
The tour covers the destinations Gaya-Bodhgaya, Rajgir-Nalanda in Bihar as
well as Sarnath-Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.
PRASHAD Scheme: The “National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual,
Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)” was launched in the year 2014-15 with the
objective of holistic development of identified pilgrimage destinations including Buddhist
sites.
Iconic Tourist Sites: Buddhist Sites at Bodhgaya, Ajanta & Ellora have been identified to be
developed as Iconic Tourist Sites (aimed at enhancing India’s soft power).
Dekho Apna Desh Initiative: It was launched by the Ministry of Tourism in 2020 to encourage
the citizens to travel widely within the country thus enabling the development of Domestic
Tourism tourist facilities and infrastructure.
Diversity of Languages: Signages have been installed in Chinese language at buddhist
monuments in Uttar Pradesh and in Sinhala language (official language of Sri Lanka) at Sanchi
monuments in Madhya Pradesh.

UNESCO’s heritage sites related to Buddhism

Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara at Nalanda, Bihar

Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi, MP
Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya, Bihar
Ajanta Caves Aurangabad, Maharashtra

What More India can do to Pursue Diplomacy through Buddhism?

Effective revitalisation of the Nalanda University project and encouragement of

Buddhist studies in well-established universities will bring International community at a common
platform.
The promotion of Buddhist tourism reminiscent of the ‘Incredible India’ campaign is
required to popularise India’s association with the faith internationally.
The government faces the crucial challenge of effective execution. Buddhist diplomacy would
go a long way in countering the rise of China, strengthening its relations with Asian
countries, and helping it further down the path of its regional and global power ambitions.
Presently, it is estimated that there are nearly 500 million Buddhists all over the World and
majority of them live in East Asia, South East Asia and Far East countries.
However, a very small percentage of them visit the Buddhist sites in India each
year.
Therefore, the significance of encouraging more tourists to visit the Buddhist
destinations where Lord Buddha lived and preached is immense.
India’s Buddhist heritage is not only important from the tourism point of view but is also a binding
factor that strengthens its relationship with Asian countries, in line with its Act East Policy.
As peace and sustainable development are interlinked, the Buddha’s prism can be the guiding
 lights to every single stakeholder from local to global institutions and leaders, to work together for
promoting dialogue, harmony, and justice based on compassion and wisdom.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Prelims

Q1. With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements: (2020)

1. Sthaviravadins belong to Mahayana Buddhism.

2. Lokottaravadin sect was an offshoot of Mahasanghika sect of Buddhism.
3. The deification of Buddha by Mahasanghikas fostered the Mahayana Buddhism.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (b)

Q2. With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements: (2016)

1. The concept of Bodhisattva is central to Hinayana sect of Buddhism.

2. Bodhisattva is a compassionate one on his way to enlightenment.
3. Bodhisattva delays achieving his own salvation to help all sentient beings on their path to it.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (b)

Q3. Which one of the following describes best the concept of Nirvana in Buddhism? (2013)

(a) The extinction of the flame of desire

(b) The complete annihilation of self
(c) A state of bliss and rest
(d) A mental stage beyond all comprehension

Ans: (a)

Q4. Consider the following: (2019)

1. Deification of the Buddha

2. Treading the path of Bodhisattvas
3. Image worship and rituals

Which of the above is/are the feature/features of Mahayana Buddhism?

(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
 Ans: (d)

Q5. Why did Buddhism start declining in India in the early medieval times? (2010)

1. Buddha was by that time considered as one of the incarnations of Vishnu and thus became a part
of Vaishnavism.
2. The invading tribes from Central Asia till the time of last Gupta king adopted Hinduism and
persecuted Buddhists.
3. The Kings of Gupta dynasty were strongly opposed to Buddhism.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (a)

Mains

Q. Pala period is the most significant phase in the history of Buddhism in India. Enumerate. (2020)

Q. Early Buddhist Stupa-art, while depicting folk motifs and narrativessuccessfully expounds Buddhist
ideals. Elucidate (2016)

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