The Complete History of Buddhism

Buddhism played a significant role in the history of India. It drew the interest of many kings, noblemen, and merchants—powerful groups whose patronage and decisions shaped the course of Indian civilization. From the time the Buddha appeared until the rise of strong Hindu dynasties such as the Sungas, Satavahanas, Guptas, and Barashivas, which later restored Hindu traditions in the post‑Mauryan era, Buddhism rose to prominence in India and spread widely through the dedicated efforts of monks and supportive rulers. By the early Christian era, it had become a major world religion, practiced across vast regions including India, Sri Lanka, China, and parts of the Far East. Its long decline in India began thereafter due to multiple internal and external factors, even as it continued to flourish abroad. The expansion of Islam and the movements of Central Asian powers further limited Buddhism’s influence beyond India, while several historical developments within the subcontinent contributed to its gradual disappearance there.

In this section, you will find articles on the history of Buddhism, the life of the Buddha and his foremost disciples, the evolution of the Buddhist Sangha, the rise of various schools of Buddhist thought, the Buddhist Councils, and more. The history of Buddhism has been carefully preserved by the Sangha since ancient times through the codification of the Buddha’s teachings and the recording of events from his life, as well as the tradition’s growth from a regional movement into a global religion. Jayaram V.