Even fictions like this have a space.
It is mostly FICTION.
Reality is quite strange.
1. Buddha never waged any struggle against Hinduism. It is a fiction. He was not persecuted at all. No one attempted to kill him and he died at 81 after a meal of contaminated pork, as recorded by Buddhist chroniclers.
2. Split of Buddhism. A few decades after Buddha's Buddhist philosopy and theology split in two. The breakways called themselves Mahayanis, and gave a DEROGATORY name Hinayana to the others. Thus first insults and derogations came from within and not from without [Hinduism and Jainsm]. They refuted each other making the work of their critics easier.
3. Hindus take up the gaunlet. It was about 400 BCE that Hindu philosophers took up the challenge of Buddhism and started refuting its philosophies. By this time Buddhists, specially Hinayana, had turned hostile not only to Hinduism, but to Jainism too. Any wonder that Jain philosophers too picked up the gaunlet?
3. Social upheavals. The major social upheaval was very much an economic matter. Large number of young men and women had turned monks and became unproductive. In addition Buddhist sanghas increasingly became the refuge of social and economic failures. Most of these were brahmins, kshatryias and traders/merchants [all failed ones]. Every escapist made a beeline for sanghas.
4. Around 450 BCE some rulers of small kingdoms had become Buddhists. But their administration, military etc were staffed by Hindus JUST because willing Buddhists were hard to find. You can guess how long they could survive.
5. About 310 BCE, Mauryan empire came up, its military backbone HAD to be from Hindus, as only they were willing to take up arms. Kautaliya took a hard look at the economic scene and introduced many tax reforms and innovations. One was Presumptive Income Tax, payable by each and every person, be a mendicant or a Buddhist monk. It started paying economic dividends and reduced the legions of freeloaders.
6. Mind you, when Alexander invaded aroubd 327 BCE, he encountered Hindu kings who put up resistance.
7. During Asoka's rule, Buddhism got a fillip and economicx and military strength suffered a loter. Later Brihadrath, last Maurya emperor was assisinated and his general Pushyamitra occupied the throne. 300 years later, this single assasination was BLOWN up into a MASSIVE massacre. No evidence found so far.
8. After this Buddhists lost political power, a must for it to thrive. And there was increasing challenge from Hindu philosphical schools. Next centuries saw a steady decline of Buddhism in India. A relentless philosophical criticism by Hindus and Jains was telling upon Buddhism. About 500 CE, Mimamsakars delivered telling blows against Buddhist philosophy. It was finall mopped up by Shankara [8 century CE]. After that there were great Buddhist philosophers. Interestingly, it was after 800 CE that Hindu philosophers started taking positive view of Buddhism.
It is mostly FICTION.
http://www.sciforums.com/showthread.php?t=76250
Reality is quite strange.
1. Buddha never waged any struggle against Hinduism. It is a fiction. He was not persecuted at all. No one attempted to kill him and he died at 81 after a meal of contaminated pork, as recorded by Buddhist chroniclers.
2. Split of Buddhism. A few decades after Buddha's Buddhist philosopy and theology split in two. The breakways called themselves Mahayanis, and gave a DEROGATORY name Hinayana to the others. Thus first insults and derogations came from within and not from without [Hinduism and Jainsm]. They refuted each other making the work of their critics easier.
3. Hindus take up the gaunlet. It was about 400 BCE that Hindu philosophers took up the challenge of Buddhism and started refuting its philosophies. By this time Buddhists, specially Hinayana, had turned hostile not only to Hinduism, but to Jainism too. Any wonder that Jain philosophers too picked up the gaunlet?
3. Social upheavals. The major social upheaval was very much an economic matter. Large number of young men and women had turned monks and became unproductive. In addition Buddhist sanghas increasingly became the refuge of social and economic failures. Most of these were brahmins, kshatryias and traders/merchants [all failed ones]. Every escapist made a beeline for sanghas.
4. Around 450 BCE some rulers of small kingdoms had become Buddhists. But their administration, military etc were staffed by Hindus JUST because willing Buddhists were hard to find. You can guess how long they could survive.
5. About 310 BCE, Mauryan empire came up, its military backbone HAD to be from Hindus, as only they were willing to take up arms. Kautaliya took a hard look at the economic scene and introduced many tax reforms and innovations. One was Presumptive Income Tax, payable by each and every person, be a mendicant or a Buddhist monk. It started paying economic dividends and reduced the legions of freeloaders.
6. Mind you, when Alexander invaded aroubd 327 BCE, he encountered Hindu kings who put up resistance.
7. During Asoka's rule, Buddhism got a fillip and economicx and military strength suffered a loter. Later Brihadrath, last Maurya emperor was assisinated and his general Pushyamitra occupied the throne. 300 years later, this single assasination was BLOWN up into a MASSIVE massacre. No evidence found so far.
8. After this Buddhists lost political power, a must for it to thrive. And there was increasing challenge from Hindu philosphical schools. Next centuries saw a steady decline of Buddhism in India. A relentless philosophical criticism by Hindus and Jains was telling upon Buddhism. About 500 CE, Mimamsakars delivered telling blows against Buddhist philosophy. It was finall mopped up by Shankara [8 century CE]. After that there were great Buddhist philosophers. Interestingly, it was after 800 CE that Hindu philosophers started taking positive view of Buddhism.
. I've been tired of thinking about this nonsense, and after living in the country for 5 years, I don't give a damn; I'd just let the people rot. You loose caring after a while - well, I did.