Sambhav-2025

Approach Briefly introduce Buddhism as a global religion that spread beyond India over time Discuss the role of Ashoka and the Pala Dynasty in promoting Buddhism as a global religion. Conclude Suitably.

Introduction

Buddhism, founded in the 6^th century BCE, spread beyond India to become one of the world's major religions. This transformation was driven by the patronage and active promotion of key rulers. Among the most significant figures were Emperor Ashoka (3^rd century BCE) and the Pala Dynasty (8^th-12^th century CE).

Body

Ashoka’s Role in Promoting Buddhism :

• Ashoka’s Conversion to Buddhism
  • From Behrighosa to Dhammaghosa: The brutal conquest of Kalinga and its aftermath led Emperor Ashoka to embrace Buddhism.
    • Distressed by the violence and loss of life, Ashoka renounced warfare and adopted the Buddhist ideals of ahimsa (non-violence) and Dharma (righteousness).
  • Imperial Patronage: Ashoka’s conversion to Buddhism was not merely personal; it marked a state-level adoption of Buddhist principles.
  • He abandoned the policy of physical occupation in favour of the policy of cultural conquest.In other words, Bherighosa was replaced by Dhammaghosa.
• Ashoka’s Propagation of Buddhism
  • Edicts of Ashoka: Ashoka issued a series of edicts inscribed on rocks and pillars, promoting Buddhist moral teachings such as non-violence, compassion, and respect for all religions.
  • The 13^th Rock Edict, explicitly advocates for the practice of non-violence (ahimsa) and religious tolerance, urging people to avoid harming living beings and to respect the beliefs of other
  • Missionary Efforts: Ashoka sent Buddhist missionaries to Sri Lanka, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia, marking the first official attempt to spread Buddhism beyond India.
    • His envoy to Sri Lanka, led by his son Mahinda, played a critical role in establishing Buddhism on the island.
    • Ashoka sent missionaries to the kingdoms of the Cholas and the Pandayas.
• Ashoka’s Diplomatic Outreach
  • Ashoka established diplomatic relations with various Hellenistic kingdoms, including those in Egypt, Greece, Syria, and Macedonia, where he also sent Buddhist missionaries.
  • These diplomatic exchanges were instrumental in spreading Buddhist ideas, particularly in the western regions of Asia.

The Role of the Pala Dynasty :

• Patronage of Buddhism : The Pala Dynasty, which ruled parts of northern India, was a staunch supporter of Buddhism.
  • Prominent Pala rulers like Dharmapala and Gopala funded Buddhist monasteries, temples, and centers of learning.
  • Vikramashila University and Nalanda University were two major centers of Buddhist education under the Palas, attracting scholars from across Asia, including China, Tibet, and Southeast Asia.
• Preservation and Promotion of Buddhist Culture : The Palas were particularly instrumental in preserving Mahayana Buddhist texts and promoting Buddhist philosophy through these educational institutions.
  • The teaching of Mahayana Buddhism, with its emphasis on compassion (karuna) and the ideal of the Bodhisattva, was promoted from these centers.
  • The Mahayana sutras, such as the Lotus Sutra, the Diamond Sutra, and the Heart Sutra, were important texts preserved and studied in these centers.
  • The Somapura Mahavihara, a large Buddhist monastic complex built by the Palas, became a center for the spread of Buddhist ideas, especially to regions such as Tibet.
• Development of Tantric Practices : Vajrayana Buddhism, with its emphasis on tantric rituals and deity worship, was supported and advanced under the Pala Dynasty.
  • The Guhyasamaja Tantra and Hevajra Tantra, key texts of Vajrayana Buddhism, were studied and propagated in the Pala-ruled regions.
• Expansion of Buddhism Beyond India : The Pala Dynasty played a crucial role in the expansion of Buddhism in Tibet.
  • Tibetan scholars, such as Rinchen Zangpo, traveled to Pala-ruled regions to study Buddhist texts and bring them back to Tibet, where they became foundational for Tibetan Buddhism.
  • The Palas helped spread Buddhism to Southeast Asia, particularly to countries like Burma (Myanmar) and Thailand, where their influence remained strong through cultural and intellectual exchanges.

Conclusion

Both Ashoka and the Pala Dynasty played transformative roles in promoting Buddhism as a global religion. Ashoka’s direct imperial patronage and missionary work laid the foundation for Buddhism’s spread across Asia, while the Pala Dynasty’s intellectual and cultural contributions ensured the religion’s continuity and influence in the centuries that followed.