Buddhism in India (6th Century B.C. to 3rd Century A.D.)

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It was during the very life of Gautam Buddha, that Buddhism had become a powerful religion in some parts of present day state of Bihar. This book discusses the growth and development of Buddhism in India from the sixth century B.C. to the third century A.D. in depth. The author has exhaustively exploited the literary sources to trace the socio-political settings which led to rise of Buddhism in India. Ashoka's conversion to Buddhism and his contributions to this religion have also been discussed in length. In the last, the book discusses how Buddhism got divided into different sects and became weaker by the third century A.D.

The book also discusses Buddhist art, philosophy and mysticism wherever appropriate.

Dr. Ashok Kumar Anand, did his schooling at Patna Collegiate School and graduated from Patna College in 1981 with Honours in History. He did M.A. in history in 1984.

He joined the Patna Collegiate School as Asst. Teacher in 1983, after his B. Ed. Examination of Patna University with first position in first class. He did his Ph.D. in 1990 from Patna University. Dr. A.K. Anand has also done M. Ed. from Himachal Pradesh University. Shimla in 1994. The author has also gained fame for popular historical writings related to history.

In recent years regional studies have become more significant for the social scientists and especially to the historians who claim to trace "history from the below." In the present work it has been endeavoured to see Buddhism in its entirety laying some-what lesser emphasis on philosophy. It is because much has already been written on this aspect.

Bihar has ever been the land of greater importance so for as the history of Buddhism is concerned. It is because Gautama became 'Buddha' The enlightened in this region. Every year, students from Thailand, Tibet and Japan come to Bihar and they readily accept to study Buddhism. All these developments enabled me to think and rethink the origin, development and spread of Buddhism in Bihar. Bihar played greater role in the spread of the philosophy and its main tenets in India and outside. On philosophical aspect, several works appear to be in existence but in its entirety a few works may be taken into account.

The present work consists of six chapters for which data have been collected mainly from literary evidences. In chapter II, extensive study has been made to trace the origin of Buddhism in Bihar in its socio-political and geographical settings. In this chapter it has also been largely discussed as to whose interest did this newly found religion serve i.e. the rulers or the subjects. Traditionally, Buddhism is interpreted as a potent reaction against the Brahmanic cult. But the present work speaks more about the socio-political environment and thus the growth of Buddhism was a historical necessity.

Bihar has played a very important role in the history of India since remote past. Bihar in ancient times was both Greece and Rome for India. It was a centre of religious and cultural movements which define the contours of cultural topography of India. It was also the hub of political activities and fountain spring of political ideas and institutions which shaped the juridic personality and political culture of the country down the ages. From here were generated the art currents which soon enveloped the whole country and determined the development of art and architecture.

From the sixth century BC onwards the region of Bihar was in real religious and philosophical ferment and most of the wandering philosophers seeking new paths to reach truth were active in Bihar. The natural resources particularly iron found in Bihar put it at the head of great political and economic revolution. The development of iron technology leading to possibility of large scale cultivation, construction of wide and long road ways and expansion of trade and commerce released new forces in social and economic spheres which could not find legitimate scope in priest-dominated animal sacrifice (mostly cattle) oriented Brahmanism. Religious discontent and socio-economic changes created the ideal condition for movement of religious reforms; and fertilized by the introduction of diverse racial and cultural tradition, the soil of Bihar proved most opportune.

**Contents and Sample Pages**