The Resurgence of Buddhism in India After Ashoka the Great
Emperor Ashoka the Great (r. 268–232 BCE) stands as the pinnacle of Buddhism’s ancient glory in India. After his conversion following the bloody Kalinga War, he transformed the religion into a state-supported empire-wide ethic, erecting pillars, building stupas, and sending missionaries as far as Sri Lanka, Greece, and Egypt. Yet, within centuries of his death, Buddhism began a long decline in its land of birth—pushed to the margins by resurgent Brahmanical traditions, Islamic invasions, and internal monastic decay.
For over a millennium, Buddhism nearly vanished from mainstream Indian life. Its resurgence—a true punarutthāna (rebirth)—is one of the most remarkable religious revivals in history. This blog traces the key phases, figures, and movements that brought Buddhism back to India after Ashoka, culminating in the modern Ambedkarite Buddhist renaissance.
Phase 1: Medieval Survival in the Shadows (4th–12th Century CE)
Though weakened, Buddhism did not disappear entirely:
- Nalanda, Vikramashila, and Odantapuri (5th–12th centuries) remained global centers of Buddhist learning, attracting scholars like Xuanzang (China) and Dharmasvamin (Tibet).
- Palas of Bengal (8th–12th century) patronized Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism, building grand viharas.
- Tanjore Chola kings in South India supported Buddhist shrines like the Nagapattinam vihara.
But by 1200 CE, Turkish invasions destroyed major universities. Monks fled to Tibet, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, carrying texts and traditions.
“The light of the Dharma was preserved in exile.” — Tibetan historian Taranatha, History of Buddhism in India (1608)
Phase 2: Colonial Rediscovery (19th Century)
Buddhism’s physical and intellectual revival began under British rule:
Archaeological Awakening
- James Prinsep (1837) deciphered Brahmi script on Ashoka’s pillars, revealing the forgotten emperor.
- Alexander Cunningham founded the Archaeological Survey of India (1861), excavating Sarnath, Kushinagar, and Bodh Gaya.
- Bodh Gaya Temple was restored after centuries of neglect, with support from the British and Sri Lankan Buddhists.
Scholarly Revival
- European scholars like Brian Houghton Hodgson, Eugene Burnouf, and Max Müller translated Pali and Sanskrit texts.
- The Pali Text Society (1881, London) published the Tipitaka, making Buddhist scriptures globally accessible.
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Photograph: Mahabodhi Temple after 1880s restoration. (Source: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain)
Anagarika Dharmapala (Sri Lanka),
Phase 3: The Theosophical & Sri Lankan Connection (Late 19th Century)
Western spiritual seekers and Sri Lankan monks played a pivotal role:
- Henry Steel Olcott and Madame Blavatsky founded the Theosophical Society in 1875. Olcott took pansil in Sri Lanka (1880) and helped revive Buddhism there.
- Anagarika Dharmapala (Sri Lanka), inspired by Olcott, founded the Maha Bodhi Society (1891) to reclaim Bodh Gaya from Hindu mahants. After a long legal battle, Buddhists regained control in 1949.
“India must regain her Buddhist heritage.” — Anagarika Dharmapala, 1893 speech in Chicago
Phase 4: 20th Century Mass Revival – The Ambedkarite Turning Point
The most dramatic resurgence came not from monks or scholars, but from the Dalit liberation movement. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s Historic Conversion (1956)
On October 14, 1956, in Nagpur, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar—India’s Constitution framer and anti-caste crusader—converted to Navayana Buddhism with ~500,000 followers.
- He rejected Hinduism’s caste system and reinterpreted Buddhism as a social revolution.
- His book The Buddha and His Dhamma (1957) became the new scripture for millions.
- He administered 22 vows, renouncing Hindu gods, rituals, and caste.
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Photograph: Dr. Ambedkar leading mass conversion. (Source: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain)
Impact in Numbers
Year | Buddhist Population in India |
1951 | ~181,000 |
1961 | ~3.25 million |
2011 | ~8.4 million (87% in Maharashtra) |
Reference: Census of India (1951–2011)
Phase 5: Modern Institutional Growth (1956–Present)
Post-Ambedkar, Buddhism became institutionalized:
Institution | Founded | Purpose |
Bharatiya Bauddh Mahasabha | 1940s | Political wing of Dalit Buddhists |
Dr. Ambedkar International Centre | 2016 | Research & cultural promotion |
Vipassana Research Institute (Igatpuri) | 1985 | Global meditation training |
Deekshabhoomi & Chaitya Bhoomi | Memorial sites | Annual pilgrimage on Oct 14 & Dec 6 |
Tibetan Buddhism also gained foothold after the Dalai Lama’s exile in 1959, with Dharamshala becoming a major center.
Buddhism Today: A Diverse Revival
Tradition | Key Centers in India | Leaders |
Navayana (Ambedkarite) | Maharashtra, UP, Karnataka | Dalit activists, Bhikkhu Sangha |
Theravada | Sarnath, Bodh Gaya | Sri Lankan, Burmese monks |
Mahayana/Zen | Ladakh, Sikkim, Arunachal | East Asian influence |
Vajrayana | Dharamshala, Bylakuppe | Dalai Lama, Karmapa |
Conclusion: From Ashes to Awakening
Buddhism’s return to India after Ashoka is not a linear revival—it is a multi-layered resurrection:
- Archaeological (19th century)
- Spiritual (Theosophists, Sri Lankans)
- Social (Ambedkar’s anti-caste revolution)
- Global (Tibetan diaspora, Vipassana movement)
Today, over 8.4 million Indians identify as Buddhist—most tracing their faith to 1956. From forgotten ruins to thriving viharas, Buddhism has risen again—not as empire, but as equality, reason, and compassion.
“I measure the progress of a community by the degree of progress which women have achieved.” — Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (A principle rooted in Buddhist ethics)
Want to Explore Further?
- Visit Dikshabhumi (Nagpur) on Dhamma Chakra Pravartan Din (Oct 14)
- Read: The Buddha and His Dhamma by B.R. Ambedkar
- Try a 10-day Vipassana course at dhamma.org
All images from Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain or CC). References include Census of India, Taranatha’s History, and works by Dharmananda Kosambi and Gananath Obeyesekere.
Jai Bhim! Namo Buddhay! Let the wheel of Dhamma turn again.
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