Why did Buddhism start declining in India in the earlymedieval times?1...
Buddha was considered 9th incarnation of Vishnu. No tribe from Central Asia persecuted Buddhists. Gupta dynasty did not oppose Buddhism. However, they did not give them patronage.
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Why did Buddhism start declining in India in the earlymedieval times?1...
The correct answer is option 'A' - 1 only.
Explanation:
- The decline of Buddhism in India during the early medieval times can be attributed to various factors. However, out of the given statements, only statement 1 is correct.
- Statement 1 states that Buddha was considered as one of the incarnations of Vishnu and became a part of Vaishnavism. This is an important reason for the decline of Buddhism in India. Over time, Buddhism started to assimilate with Hinduism, and many Hindus began to see Buddha as an avatar of Lord Vishnu. This led to the integration of Buddhist beliefs and practices into the larger umbrella of Hinduism, resulting in the decline of Buddhism as a separate religious identity.
- However, statements 2 and 3 are incorrect.
- Statement 2 suggests that invading tribes from Central Asia adopted Hinduism and persecuted Buddhists. While it is true that there were invasions from Central Asia during this period, the decline of Buddhism cannot be solely attributed to these invasions. The decline was a gradual process that occurred over centuries and was influenced by various factors.
- Statement 3 claims that the kings of the Gupta dynasty were strongly opposed to Buddhism. This is not entirely accurate. While it is true that some Gupta rulers, such as Samudragupta, were patrons of Hinduism, there were also Gupta rulers who supported Buddhism, such as Emperor Kumaragupta I. Therefore, it cannot be said that the Gupta dynasty as a whole was opposed to Buddhism.
- In conclusion, the main reason for the decline of Buddhism in India during the early medieval times was the assimilation of Buddha into Hinduism, where he was regarded as an incarnation of Vishnu. This led to the integration of Buddhist practices and beliefs into Hinduism, resulting in the decline of Buddhism as a separate religious tradition in India.
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