Why Buddhism Declined in India: Causes and History
This paper examines the historical decline of Buddhism in India, tracing its origins to the sixth and seventh centuries AD. Drawing on scholarship by Hazra, Goyal, Mitra, and others, the paper identifies and analyzes eight major causes: the moral decline of Buddhist monks and nuns, internal schisms within the Sangha, the corrupting influence of Mahayanism and Hindu ritual elements, Brahmanical hostility, the pessimistic Doctrine of Suffering, royal persecution under rulers such as Pusyamitra Sunga, Islamic persecution by Muslim conquerors, and the eventual withdrawal of royal patronage. The paper concludes that Buddhism's disappearance from India resulted from a combination of internal failures and powerful external pressures.
- Introduction: Overview of Buddhism's decline and main causes
- Moral Decline and Monastic Discipline: Immoral conduct of monks and nuns
- Internal Divisions and the Fragmentation of the Sangha: Schisms and factionalism weakened the Sangha
- Mahayanism, Tantrism, and Hindu Influences: Ritual corruption and Hindu absorption of Buddhism
- Brahmanical Hostility and the Doctrine of Suffering: Brahmin opposition and pessimistic doctrine
- Royal and Islamic Persecution: Rulers and Muslim invaders persecuted Buddhists
- Decline of Patronage: Loss of royal and noble support
- Conclusion: Internal and external factors sealed Buddhism's decline
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What makes this paper effective
- The paper organizes a complex historical question into clearly delineated causal categories, making a multi-factor argument accessible and easy to follow.
- It consistently supports each cause with direct citations from named scholars (Hazra, Goyal, Mitra, Ahir), lending credibility to each claim.
- The conclusion effectively synthesizes the argument by distinguishing between internal and external causes, demonstrating analytical depth beyond simple listing.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates the use of a multi-causal historical argument — rather than attributing a complex historical outcome to a single factor, the author assembles and evaluates several independent causes, showing how they interacted and compounded one another. This technique is well suited to history and religious studies essays where singular explanations are rarely sufficient.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with a brief introduction that previews all major causes, then dedicates one or two paragraphs to each cause in sequence: moral decline, internal schisms, Mahayanism, Brahmanical hostility, the Doctrine of Suffering, royal persecution, Islamic persecution, and loss of patronage. The conclusion revisits each cause in abbreviated form and frames the overall decline as the product of both internal failures and external pressures. A Works Cited list in MLA format closes the paper.
Introduction
Buddhism — the religion founded by Gautama Buddha — has witnessed a steady decline in India, despite the country being among those in which Buddhism was earliest practiced. The accounts of well-known scholars have shown that the waning of Buddhism in India dates back to the 7th century AD. While its decline commenced in the sixth century AD, Buddhism's internal degeneration became evident starting from the following century. Numerous factors are perceived to have had an impact on Buddhism's collapse in India, all having contributed together to guarantee its decline. The principal causes include: the moral decline of leadership, royal persecution, Islamic persecution, and the rise of Mahayanism.
Moral Decline and Monastic Discipline
Scholars argue that one significant reason for Buddhism's decline in India was the moral decline of the leadership and the leniency in monastic discipline. Buddhist monks' and nuns' moral conduct declined, becoming apparent in many parts of India as they displayed very low moral standards (Goyal 393–5). Goyal further explained that monks from contemporary Little Tibet (Balti or Bolor) behaved inappropriately and lacked definite learning. When writing about Sind's Sammitiya monks, Goyal (394) asserted that they were worthless and indolent individuals drawn to debauchery. Despite wearing the attire of monks, they "killed animals, reared cattle and maintained wives and children" (Mitra 33).
Works Cited
Ahir, D. C. Buddhism Declined in India: How and Why? Delhi: B. R. Publishing, 2005. Print.
Beal, S. (translator). Si-Yu Ki: Buddhist Records of the Western World. London: Trubner & Co., 1884; reprint ed., Delhi: Oriental Books Reprint Corporation. Print.
Goyal, S. R. A History of Indian Buddhism. Meerut: Kusumanjali Prakashan, 1987. Print.
Hazra, Kanai Lal. The Rise and Decline of Buddhism in India. Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd., 1995. Print.
Joshi, L. M. Brahmanism, Buddhism and Hinduism. The Wheel Publication, 1973. Print.
Mitra, R. C. The Decline of Buddhism in India. Visva-Bharati Research Publication Committee, 1981. Print.
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