BuddhaHome Team

Buddhist Roots in India: Travel Back in Time

Buddhism is a popular religion across South-east Asia where it is being followed as a philosophy. However, most of the people here do not know that Buddhist roots lie in India. Yes, Buddhism was born in India and is one of the oldest religions of India. It was around 2500 years back when Buddha attained enlightenment that he decided to spread his knowledge. The teachings by him formed the foundation of Buddhism which were later spread by his followers to other parts of the world. Though the religion is quite popular in many parts of the world, it declined in India, its birthplace. However, in recent times it has undergone a revival and the lost pages of history have resurfaced.

Birth of Buddhism and its spread

The royal prince of Shakya kingdom, Siddhartha Gautama renounced all worldly pleasures to live the life of an ascetic. Under the Bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya, he attained supreme knowledge and became the Buddha, ‘the enlightened one’. Thereon he journeyed to various parts of North India spreading his knowledge. It is said that Gautam Buddha gave his first sermon at the Deer Park in Sarnath and it became the holy place of the birth of Buddhism. His first five disciples formed the monastic sangha.

Soon Buddha’s teachings spread in the surrounding region and people started visiting him to attend his sermons. Thus, gradually Buddhism spread its roots in India. Patrons from royal dynasties (Mauryan dynasty, Pala dynasty, Kushana dynasty) supported Buddhism, and it became the most followed religion of its time. Even Buddhist art and sculptures gained popularity during the period. Merchants and many followers also helped in spreading Buddhism. The reason for Buddhism’s acceptance among crowds was that Buddha’s teachings were a practical approach to life. It propagated the middle way, i.e., moderation of indulgence and abstinence, which led to the path of salvation from the worldly sufferings. Vastly different from the lavish Hinduism, the simple way of Buddhism attracted the common man in India. Soon it spread to other parts of the world through monks and missionaries who patronized it in the regions they traveled.

The Forgotten Buddhist roots in India

As Buddhism was spreading rapidly in other countries, Buddhist roots in India were forgotten over time. Multiple factors led Buddhism to the very brink of extinction in its birthplace.

Buddhism was at its peak when supported by royal patrons, but when the dynasties ceased to exist, it began to decline. The dwindling of funds left the monks and missionaries with minimal options. Also, foreign invasions (Turks) destroyed many centers of Buddhism and turned them into ruins. Many Buddhist sites such as Nalanda which were once the glorious centers of culture, spirituality, and learning were turned to ashes. The brutality towards the sacred sites and the holy people scared away the monks and disciples who escaped to other lands like Sri Lanka, China, Thailand, or isolated regions of Ladakh, Tibet, and some corners of North East India. With time, Buddhism was forgotten in India, it lost its popularity and whatever remained was hidden in the sacred sites, caves, and tales.

Buddhist roots in India run deep. Excavations done during the 19^th Century have revealed the country’s strong connection with the faith. Though Buddhism now exists as a minority in India, the teachings of Buddha are admired by all. Pilgrims from around the world have been visiting these lesser-known sacred sites of Buddha to seek his blessings.