The Buddhist Era

The spread of Buddhism to distant lands brought several evils, which later made it a stagnant religion. What has been a simple religion with simple rules of conduct later developed a complicated theology, which Buddha had condemned. The Buddhist Vicars grew in size and wealth. Many, of the, monks and nuns became corrupt and neglect learning and virtue. With its excessive stress on nonviolence, Buddhism lost its appeal to the warrior classes who had militaristic traditions. The atheistic tendencies of Buddhism also did not appeal too many who had traditional faith in a living God. This was especially so in India where a personnel God of the epics Ramayana and Mahavarata has always appealed more than the impersonal and abstract concept. Hinduism had a wonderful assimilative power. Many Hindus left meat eating and became vegetarians. Buddha was defined as Hindu God. A day came when Hindu missionaries from India went out to South-East Asia. During the British rule, Hindu settlers went to Ceylon, Malaysia, and Fiji Islands, Mauritius and to several countries in Africa. Lastly, when Islam came to the east, Buddhism could not withstand its attack. As far as Indian History is concerned there was nothing like Buddhist era. At no time, however, Buddhism replaced Hinduism.