UPSC Prelims 2010 Q141: Ancient History – Buddhism & Jainism
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 1 and 3 only
- (c) 2 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (a) 1 only
Explanation
Why Buddhism declined in early medieval India: checking three claims
Buddhism's decline in India involved several complex religious and social-political factors.
| Statement | Verdict | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Buddha was absorbed as an incarnation of Vishnu, becoming part of Vaishnavism | Correct | Hindu traditions increasingly incorporated the Buddha as an avatar of Vishnu, effectively absorbing Buddhist devotion into the broader Vaishnavite fold, reducing Buddhism's distinct identity |
| 2. Invading Central Asian tribes till the last Gupta king adopted Hinduism and persecuted Buddhists | Incorrect | This is a disputed, overstated historical claim; there isn't strong consistent evidence of systematic persecution by these specific groups across this timeframe |
| 3. Gupta kings were strongly opposed to Buddhism | Incorrect | The Gupta rulers were generally tolerant, and some actively patronized Buddhism (e.g., supporting Nalanda), contradicting this claim |
Why Buddhism declined — the credited reason:
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Key factor | Absorption into Vaishnavism (Buddha as Vishnu's avatar) |
| Not a key factor | Claims of systematic persecution by invaders or Gupta kings, which lack strong supporting evidence |
Answer: (a) 1 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) CORRECT. The absorption of Buddha into Vaishnavism as a Vishnu avatar is the credited, well-supported reason; the other two claims are overstated/inaccurate.
- (b) Incorrect. Statement 3's Gupta persecution claim is inaccurate, so '1 and 3 only' is wrong.
- (c) Incorrect. Statements 2 and 3 are both inaccurate/overstated, so '2 and 3 only' is wrong.
- (d) Incorrect. Statements 2 and 3 are not well-supported, so 'all three' cannot be correct.
Key point
Buddhism's decline in early medieval India is best explained by its ABSORPTION INTO VAISHNAVISM (Buddha as a Vishnu avatar) — NOT by claims of systematic persecution by Central Asian invaders or the generally tolerant Gupta kings.
Remember
Buddhism declined in early medieval India mainly because the Buddha was absorbed as a Vishnu avatar into Vaishnavism — not through Gupta persecution or invader persecution claims.
Common mistakes
- Overstating persecution narratives that lack strong historical support for this specific period.
- Assuming the Gupta dynasty was hostile to Buddhism, when it was actually largely tolerant and sometimes patronizing.
- Missing the more nuanced, religious-syncretism explanation (Buddha-as-Vishnu-avatar) as the credited primary factor.
Exam tip
Buddhism's decline = gradual absorption into Vaishnavism (syncretism), not dramatic persecution by Gupta kings or specific invaders.
Sources
- R. S. Sharma — Ancient India (NCERT textbook for Class XI)
- Romila Thapar — A History of India, Volume 1 (Penguin)