Buddhism After the Mauryans

Posted on July 28, 2007 in Buddhism History

After the murder of the last Mauryan ruler Brihadratha by his general Pusyamitra, the founder of the Sunga Dynasty, Buddhism suffered an initial set back due to the loss of royal patronage that it once enjoyed.

Scholars view that although the Rulers from the Sunga Dynasty were ardent followers of the Vedic religion, Buddhism was tolerated. However most of the Buddhist sources narrate that there were attempts to religiously suppress and persecute the Buddhists. Pushyamitra Sunga is said to have ruthlessly destroyed several Buddhist monuments including a famous monastery at Pataliputra. Apart from patronizing Brahminism, he is even said to have offered rewards to those who could kill the Buddhist monks. But, most historians disagree with these by pointing out that the Buddhist stupas and railings constructed at Barhut, and the uninterrupted preservation of several other Buddhist monuments and Stupas throughout the Sunga period are evidences of their religious tolerance.

Buddhism under the Satvahanas

Down South, Buddhism gained patronage under the Satvahanas (rulers of Maharashtra, Andhrapradesh, and central India between 200 BC and 250 AD). Though the Satavahanas were Brahmins, they were tolerant towards other religions. Both Buddhism and Hinduism co-existed peacefully and flourished during their reign. Generous grants for constructing and maintaining several monasteries, residential quarters, and cave dwellings for the Buddhist monks were made by the Satvahanas. Amaravathi and Nagarjunakonda in Andhrapradesh were the prominent Buddhist centers which flourished and gained prominence under the Dynasty.

Buddhism during the rein of Kushan Dynasty

Buddhism during the Post-Mauryan period was given a new lease of rigor under Kanishka, a great ruler from the Kushan Dynasty. Apart from patronizing the Fourth Buddhist Council in Kashmir during his reign, he is said to have raised the status of Buddhism to that of a state religion. He erected Stupas and Chaityas, sent missions abroad and built monasteries. Discovery of Buddha images belonging to this period supports the fact that Buddhism has indeed flourished under Kanishka. It was during the Kushan period that the North retained the then popular Mahayana Buddhism, while in the South and Ceylon, Hianayana remained popular.

According to Fahien, a Chinese Buddhist monk who visited India during the reign of the Guptas, Buddhism still remained popular in spite of the patronage given to Hinduism.

Buddism during Harshavardhana’s reign

Buddhism’s hold in the Indian subcontinent fluctuated according to the political developments in the regions. While Hieun Tsang and Kalhana record the persecution of the Buddhists by the Hunas who invaded India during the close of the fifth century A.D., the seventh century A.D. saw the revival of Buddhism under the patronage of Harshavardhana. His reign also witnessed the emergence of Nalanda as one of the great centers of learning for Buddhist monks.

Despite the support and patronage by Harsha and the Palas, Buddhism’s hold in the Indian subcontinent declined by the end of twelfth century A.D. with the rigorous revival of Hinduism and the entry of Muslim invaders. However, the numerous missions sent beyond the subcontinent during the Mauryan period ensured it’s continuance in other parts of the world.

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