Propagation of Buddhism

The propagation of Buddhism promoted

India’s contacts with Sri Lanka, Burma, China and Central Asia. Most probably

the Buddhist missionaries were sent to Sri Lanka in the reign of Asoka m the

third century B.C. Short inscriptions in Brahmi script belonging to the second

and first centuries B.C. have been found in Sri Lanka. In course of time

Buddhism came to acquire a permanent stronghold in Sri Lanka. In the early

centuries of the Christian era Buddhism spread from India to Burma.

The Burmese developed the Theravada form of

Buddhism, and erected many temples and statues in honor of the Buddha what is

more significant, the Burmese and Sri Lanka Buddhists produced a rich corpus of

Buddhist literature, not to be found m India. All the Pali texts were compiled

and commented upon m Sri Lanka. Although Buddhism disappeared from India it

continued to command a large following in Burma and Sri Lank*, which is the

case even now.

Beginning with the reign of Kaiushka a

large number of Indian missionaries went to China, Central Asia and Afghanistan

for preaching their religion. From China Buddhism spread to Korea and Japan,

and it was in search of Buddhist texts and doctrines that several Chinese

pilgrims such as Fahsien and Hsuan Tsang came to India. Eventually this contact

proved fruitful to both the countries. A Buddhist colony cropped up at Tun

Huang, which was the starting point of the companies of merchants going across

the desert. The Indians learnt the art of growing silk from China, and the

Chinese learnt from India the art of Buddhist painting.

Afghanistan and Central Asia

The two other great centers of Buddhism in

ancient times were Afghanistan and Central Asia, In Afghanistan many statues of

the Buddha and monasteries have been discovered. Begram and Bamiyan situated in

the north of this country are famous for such relics. Begram is famous for ivory

work, which is similar to Indian workmanship m Kushan times. Bamiyan hats the

distinction of possessing the tallest Buddha statue cut out of rock in the

early centuries of the Christian era. It has thousands of natural and

artificial caves m ‘which the monks lived Buddhism continued to hold ground in

this country till the seventh century A.D. when it was supplanted by Islam.’

A similar process took place in the Central

Asian republics of the USSR. Excavations have revealed Buddhist monasteries,

stupas and inscriptions, and manuscripts written in Indian languages at several

places in the Central Asian parts of the USSR As a result of the extension of

the Kushan rule Prakrit written in Kharosthi script spread to Central Asia,

where we find many Prakrit inscriptions and manuscripts

belonging to the fourth century A.D.

Written language was used for official and day to day correspondence as well as

for the preservation and propagation of Buddhism In Central Asia Buddhism

continued to be a dominant religious force till it was replaced by Islam around

the end of seventh century A.D.