Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-2, Issue-9, 2016 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in The Looping Journey of Buddhism: From India To India Jyoti Gajbhiye Former Lecturer in Yashwant Rao Chawhan Open University. Abstract: This research paper aims to show how were situated along the Indus valley in Punjab and Buddhism rose and fell in India, with India Sindh. retaining its unique position as the country of birth Around 2000 BC, the Aarya travelers and invaders for Buddhism. The paper refers to the notion that came to India. The native people who were the native people of India were primarily Buddhist. Dravidian, were systematically subdued and It also examines how Buddhism was affected by defeated. various socio-religious factors. It follows how They made their own culture called “vedik Buddhism had spread all over the world and again Sanskriti”. Their beliefs lay in elements such Yajna came back to India with the efforts of many social (sacred fire) and other such rituals. During workers, monks, scholars, travelers, kings and Buddha’s time there were two cultures “Shraman religious figures combined. It examines the Sanskriti” and “vedik Sanskriti”. Shraman Sanskrit contribution of monuments, how various texts and was developed by “Sindhu Sanskriti” which their translations acted as catalysts; and the believes In hard work, equality and peace. contribution of European Indologists towards Archaeological surveys and excavations produced spreading Buddhism in Western countries. The many pieces of evidence that prove that the original major question the paper tackles is how and why natives of India are Buddhist. Referring to an Buddhism ebbed away from India, and also what article from Gail Omvedt’s book “Buddhism in we can learn from the way it came back. India” which was originally published in “The Telegraph” – Introduction: Today Buddhism is a globally wide spread religion The History of Hinduism too find place in with presence in every nation. It is very discussion. ‘Hinduism’, according to Omvedt was interesting that Buddhism originated from India originally a “geographical” idea ‘during the and developed here, and after that it spread all British rule the nationalist elites fixed on the term over the world .When many Asian countries were Hindusim to identify their religion. As she following Buddhism in different forms like describes it, ancient Indian was not “Hindu” as is Mahayana, Hinyana ,Tantrayana, Therwada, propagated, but largely Buddhist. Brahminism only th Buddhism in India had ebbed and become very low revived in India from 7 century onwards. between the 13th -14th and later centuries. nd However, in 1956 it was returned through the -(An Excerpt from theTelegraph2 January 2003) efforts of Dr. Bheemrao Ambedkar, mostly through the large number of scheduled caste Hindus who Kapilavastu was a republican state and there were had converted back to Buddhism. Before Dr. many ruling families in the republic of “Shakya, Bheemrao Ambedkar, some foreigners and Indians where they ruled in successive generations, with reformers made dedicated efforts to bring back the head of the family being known by the title of Buddhism in India. Dr .Bheemrao Ambedkar Raja (King). Then Siddhartha Gautama was born in brought a new version of Buddhism it called the house of Shudhodhana with his turn to be Raja “Navyan” imminent. Defying his royal destiny, Siddhartha Buddhism, as this version of Buddhism has not left the house at the age of 29 for finding the truth divided into different branches. It has only 22 oaths about the nature of life and suffering. He fasted to for following this religion. It is very easy to follow an extreme degree for many days in Uruwela. After for modern people, and it is important to keep it in the prolonged fasting he realized that this achieved mind as we watch the journey of Buddhism unfold. nothing and was not the way to reach truth. Working for humanity is proper way for living life. 1) The Origins of Buddhism: Circa 1500 BC the major cultural presence in India 528BC he found sambodhi (Enlightenment) under was of “Sindhu sanskriti” (the Indus valley the sacred tree and started dhammaopdesh civilization) .That was the original culture of India. (preaching). He formed the Bhikkhu sangha and Cities like Mohan Jodaro and Harappa were found sent them to spread the word of Buddhism in many in excavations which were solid archaeological different countries .He made first five disciples. evidence of Indus valley civilization. These cities This has been called “Discourse on the turning of the wheel of Law” which included all of the teachings of Buddha. He had shown the middle Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Page 722 Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-2, Issue-9, 2016 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in way for living. Some more description has been (Milind) who was the ruler of northwestern India given in Romila Thapar’s book “The Penguin (Now known as Pakistan). Milind asked him a History of early India” large volume of questions and he answered them “In underlining elements of logic and rationality, .The collection of these questions and their answers the Buddha was reflecting some of interests of his is collectively called “Questions of King Milinda”. day. Freedom from the cycle of rebirth led to Nagsen also went to Thailand where he spread nirvana, interpreted either as bliss through Buddhism and introduced people to the Emerald enlightenment, or extinction. Thus the doctrine of Buddha ( a meditating Buddha made of semi karma and samsara, linking action and rebirth, precious green stone) was essential to the Buddhist system even if the .Nagsen,Nagarjun,Asang,vasubandhu,Dignag,Dhar Buddha denied the existence of the atman or soul.” mkirti,Dharmottar,Shantrakshit,Gyanshree,Shakysh The major methods through which Buddhism was reebhadra were the bhikkhus who were the primary spread all over the world include- students of Buddha. 1.1) Monks and their major contribution in spreading Buddhism Nagarjuna was one of the greatest Buddhist philosophers in history. He was born in 150 CE in Buddha went to Rrishipattan Mrigdawat (known Amravati in Vidarbha. He was also an ayurvedic today as Sarnath), where he proceeded to form the doctor. He opened the madhyamika school, which panchwargiy bhikkhu sangha .He told his bhikkhus adhered to the tenets of Mahayana Buddhism. He to go to different countries to preach people, as this had written religion was for happiness and peace of the bahujan “mulamadhyamakakarika”(Fundamental verse on (large group of common people),because this the middle way) expounding upon one of the major religion is truly the path to happiness and it would pillars of Buddhism the Middle Path which help them to develop themselves”. In those times, advocates the avoidance of all extreme choices in the King of Magdha was Bimbisar. Gautam favor of a moderate approach. Nagarjuna resided in Buddha preached to Bimbisara and Kosalnaresh Sriparvata near Guntur (Aandhra Pradesh) which Prasenjit .The king was considered the most crucial later came to be called Nagarjunkonda. factor in protecting and promoting a particular Nagarjunakonda has two monasteries by the names religion and this preaching went on to secure the of Caitika and Bahusutrya. Over the course of his king’s endorsement for the religion. Considering life, he wrote many books on Buddhism. This was this power of the ruler over the spread of religion, an unflinching effort to help in the spreading of when the Mughals ruled in India several Buddha Buddhism. His student Aarydewa also expanded statues and viharas were destroyed. In British times upon his work. Asang was half brother to Buddhism was not opposed outright by the British Vasubandhu. They both spread Abhidharma but the spread of Christianity affected it in various (Buddhist text which contains various Buddhist ways. Buddhism’s period of glory was the Shakya sutras) in different countries. Dignāga has a major period, Koshal period, Maurya period and Gupt text written by him, the Pramana- period . Large religious conferences were held to Samuccaya (Compendium of Valid Cognition), promote Buddhism. The conferences had a general which revolves around the way perception works in aim to send boddha bhikkhu to another countries to the context of language. It considers perception to initiate the spread of Buddhism. Boddha bhikkhus be pure cognition, without the presence of further met as a community and considered how to develop deliberation, and sees language as being a tool Dhamma. During Buddha’s period there were 80 coming forth from thoughtful exclusion. mahashravaks. Sariputta and Maudgalyayna were Dhammakirti was an ideal for Dignaga, and he the main two bhikkhus who assisted Gautam formed a school of Buddhist logic which was Buddha. Gautam Buddha went to various cities in keenly philosophical owing to his past work in India in his life time. His birthplace was Lumbini, philosophy and human psychology. however the birth of his philosophy was in Bodhgaya; where he found buddhatv Dhammakitri was a Buddhist scholar from (Buddhahood). After this life changing event he Indonesia who went on to become a renowned went on to visit Rishipattan (sarnath), Rajgruh, teacher in Nalanda University. Shantrakshit Vaishali, Mankul parwart (Bihar), Sunsumargiri ,Gyanshree,Shakyshreebhadra also did significant (chunar), kaushambi (AIlahabad), Parileyak work for the cause of Buddhism. Buddhist monk (Mirjapur), Nala (Bihar), Vairanja, Chaliy Parvat, were not only sadhus/religious figures but they Shravasti (Gonda), Kapilvastu, Kushinagar. He were also learned people who were revered by died in 483BC in Kushinagar. His contemporary society for their knowledge and wisdom; many of Nagsen was a follower of Mahayana Buddhism, them had written books and translated texts from and he preached to the Indo Greek king Meander Pali and Sanskrit to regional languages. Many Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Page 723 Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-2, Issue-9, 2016 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in religious texts pertaining to the Mahayana stream undergoing the proper deeksha.