IGNOU HISTORY NOTES : India Earliest Times to the 8th Century A.D - Development in Religion

IGNOU HISTORY Study Notes for IAS, UPSC Exams

India Earliest Times to the 8th Century A.D

Development in Religion

Structure

25.0 Objectives
25.1 Introduction
2 5.2 Buddhism
25.2.1 Expansion and Patronage
25.2.2 Rise of Mahayana Buddhism
25.2.3 Sects
25.2.4 Centres
25.3 Jainism
25.3.1 Spread and Patronage
25.3.2 Sects
25.3.3 Centres
25.4 Brahmanism
25.4.1 New Developments
25.4.2 Other Deities
25.5 Saivism
25.6 Vaishnavism
25.7 Let Us Sum Up
25.8 Key Words
25.9 Answers to Check Your Progress Exercises

25.0 OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this unit is to briefly discuss the development of religions in India during the
post-Mauryan period. After reading this unit you should be able to:
understand the stages of change which Buddhism and Jainism went through during this
period,
understand the nature of Brahmanism,
know about the growth of religious sects associated with Saivism and Vaishnavism, and
follow how new ideas were assimilated by these religions.

25.1 INTRODUCTION

In Unit 17 you read about the rise of Buddhism and Jainism and their devebpment upto 200
B.C. In this unit we take into account the conditions and development of various religions
during 200 B.C. to 300 A.D. The political situation of the post-Maurya period, that is, the
rise of the Sungas, the Satavahanas, and the appearance of such ruling powers as those of the
Indo-Greeks. Saka-Parthians and the Kushanas in the North-West influenced to an extent the
course of religion during this period. For example, after the patronage which Buddhism
received from Asoka, there was royal supporf to Brahmanism under the Sungas. Sim'ilarly.
the liberal social attitude of Buddhism made the absorption of foreigners into Indian Society
comparatively easy, thus leading to social assimilation. This assimilation could very well
have influenced the support extended to Buddhism by the Indo-Greeks. I
We already know that Buddhism had a large following among the merchant communities.
Hence, an increase in trade and commerce during this period helped the growth of Buddhism.
The traders, though involved in trade, also left traces of their personal religions in the areas
they visited. We will see how all these aspects brought changes in the religions of the
period. This period witnessed certain changes in orthodox Brahmanism and also in the
appearance of certain sects associated with Saivism and Vaishnavism.
Thus, the major points of change in religion in the post-Mauryan period were: