Questions about Decline of Buddhism in the Indian subcontinent
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What caused the decline of Buddhism in India?
The decline of Buddhism in India resulted from several overlapping factors: the rise of Hinduism and its growing appeal among rural and common people, the loss of royal patronage as new dynasties supported Hindu Brahmins instead, the isolation of large monastic centers from lay life, and the destruction of major Buddhist universities and monasteries during Turkic invasions in the 12th and 13th centuries. A. L. Basham's classic study identifies the resurgence of Hindu religion as the main cause, while invasions delivered a decisive final blow.
When did Buddhism disappear from India?
Buddhism was largely ousted from most of India by approximately the 12th century, with the destruction of major centers like Nalanda and Vikramashila around 1197-1200 CE marking a turning point. Pockets survived longer: in south India until the 15th or 16th century, in the Kashmir Valley into the 15th century, and in Himalayan regions where it persists today. By 1901, only about 0.3 million Buddhists were recorded in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan combined.
Who destroyed Nalanda and Vikramashila?
The forces of Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khilji destroyed Odantapuri's monasteries in 1197 and Vikramashila around 1200 CE. Nalanda was mistaken for a fort because of its walled campus, and its monks were slaughtered, with the victims mistaken for Brahmins according to Minhaj-i-Siraj. Some scholars, including archaeologist Giovanni Verardi, have argued that Brahmin appropriation rather than Muslim forces was the primary cause of destruction at several of these sites.
How did Mihirakula persecute Buddhism in India?
Mihirakula, the Alchon Hun ruler who controlled the northwestern region from 515 to 540 CE, ordered the expulsion of monks and the destruction of Buddhist monasteries throughout Gandhara, with the destruction reaching as far as modern-day Prayagraj. His campaign was reversed between 525 and 532 CE by Yashodharman of the Malava Empire and rulers of the Gupta Empire. The religion recovered slowly during the 7th century after his era ended.
Who revived Buddhism in India in the modern era?
Don David Hewavitarne, later known as Anagarika Dharmapala, began a revival in 1891 by visiting India and forming the Maha Bodhi Society with American Theosophists to recover Buddhist holy sites. B. R. Ambedkar launched the Dalit Buddhist movement when he converted on the 14th of October 1956 in Nagpur along with 365,000 followers. The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, established the government of Tibet in Exile in Dharamshala in 1959, making it a major center of Buddhism.
Where did Buddhism survive in the Indian subcontinent after its decline?
Buddhism survived in Gilgit and Baltistan until the 13th or 14th century and in the Kashmir Valley into the 15th century. In Tamil Nadu and Kerala it persisted until the 15th or 16th century. Pockets also survived among the Barua community of Bengali Magadh descent in the Chittagong region, among the Newars of Nepal who practice Newar Buddhism, and in the Ladakh region where Tibetan Buddhism continues today.