After Siddhartha Gautama passed away, the community he founded slowly developed into a religious movement. The teachings of Siddhartha became the basis of Buddhism. However, by the third century BCE, the view of Buddhism changed immensely. Ashoka the Great, the Mauryan Indian emperor who ruled from 268 to 232 BCE, made Buddhism the state religion of India. He encouraged Buddhist activity and made Buddhist monks in charge of political decision making. At the time of Ashoka’s reign, trade routes were opened through southern India. Buddhist merchants took Buddhism with them as they used these roads. Buddhism entered Sri Lanka (small island nation south of India) at this at this time. Mahavamsa, a Buddhist chronicle, claimed the Devanampiya (ruler of Sri Lanka), was converted to Buddhism by Ashoka’s son, Mahinda. The …show more content…
This is because of two major factors in history. The first being because of several Muslim invasions-therefore creating the advancement of Hinduism. This incorporated the Buddha as part of the pantheon of endless gods. In the end, the Buddha was swallowed up by the realm of Hindu gods, his importance diminished, and in the very land where it was born, Buddhism dwindled to be practiced by very