Spread and Development of Buddhism and Jainism
A self-learning interactive flipbook covering patrons, monasteries, important centres, sectarian developments and the spread of Buddhism beyond India.
Spread and Development of Buddhism and Jainism
What you will learn
- Geographical spread of Buddhism and Jainism.
- Important rulers and patrons.
- Role of the Sangha and monastic institutions.
- Major Buddhist and Jain centres.
- Development of Buddhist sects and schools.
- Spread of Buddhism beyond India.
How Did These Traditions Spread?
The spread of Buddhism and Jainism was not caused by a single factor. It developed through the interaction of religious teachers, organised communities, political patronage, merchants and expanding networks of communication.
Travelling religious specialists carried teachings between settlements.
Patronage provided protection, donations and institutional support.
Trade networks connected monasteries and urban centres.
They became centres of residence, teaching, ritual and learning.
Early Geographical Spread
Buddhism and Jainism first developed strongly in the middle Ganga region and adjoining areas where urbanisation and the rise of Mahajanapadas created new networks of settlement and exchange.
- Magadha
- Kosala
- Vajji region
- Anga
- Avanti
- Gandhara and north-western regions later became important for Buddhism.
Their expansion followed both established routes and new connections created by growing towns and long-distance commerce.
Ashoka and the Development of Buddhism
Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan Empire became one of the most important royal patrons associated with Buddhism.
- He supported Buddhist institutions and communities.
- He associated his rule with ethical principles expressed through Dhamma.
- His inscriptions provide valuable evidence for his religious and ethical policies.
- Buddhist tradition associates his reign with missions to several regions.
Ashoka should not be treated as the sole reason for the spread of Buddhism. Buddhism already possessed an organised community and networks before his reign.
Important Buddhist Patrons and Rulers
Patronage and Spread of Jainism
Jainism also developed networks of monks, nuns, lay followers and merchant communities.
- Mahavira’s activity in the eastern Ganga region.
- Traditions connecting Chandragupta Maurya with Jainism.
- Kharavela’s association with Jainism in Kalinga.
- Strong support from urban and merchant communities.
Jainism developed especially strong institutional and community networks in western India, central India and the Deccan over subsequent centuries.
The Buddhist Sangha
The Sangha was the organised monastic community of Buddhism. It played a central role in preserving, teaching and transmitting Buddhist ideas.
Bhikkhus followed monastic discipline and travelled or lived in monasteries.
The Buddhist tradition also developed an order of bhikkhunis.
Monastic residence and institutional space for Buddhist communities.
Sacred monuments associated with relics, memory and Buddhist worship.
How Were Monasteries Supported?
Buddhist monasteries depended substantially on donations and patronage. Support could come from rulers, merchants, wealthy householders and other lay followers.
- Food and daily necessities.
- Land or revenue grants in later periods.
- Donations from merchants.
- Gifts from rulers and officials.
- Donations from ordinary lay followers.
This economic relationship helped monasteries become relatively stable centres of teaching and religious activity.
Trade and the Spread of Buddhism
Trade routes played an important role in connecting religious communities with towns and distant regions.
- Merchants travelled between urban centres.
- Monasteries were sometimes located near important routes.
- Merchants supported monasteries through donations.
- Monks and merchants could travel along interconnected networks.
The relationship between Buddhism and trade was therefore institutional, social and geographical rather than simply economic.
Major Early Buddhist Centres
Associated with the Buddha’s enlightenment.
Associated with the Buddha’s first sermon.
Associated with the Buddha’s Mahaparinirvana.
Important early centre of Buddhism and location associated with the First Council.
Important Buddhist centre and location associated with the Second Council.
Major centre of Buddhist monuments, especially stupas.
Nalanda and Other Centres
Over time, Buddhist monasteries developed into important centres of learning. Some acquired international reputations.
Nalanda in present-day Bihar became a major Buddhist monastic and intellectual centre, particularly from the Gupta and post-Gupta periods.
Other important centres
- Vikramashila
- Valabhi
- Odantapuri
- Taxila
- Amaravati region
Stupas and Sacred Centres
Stupas became important physical symbols of Buddhist religious memory and pilgrimage.
Famous for its stupas, gateways and Buddhist artistic traditions.
Known for important sculptural remains associated with Buddhist art.
Major Buddhist artistic centre in the lower Krishna region.
Important north-western centre connected with Buddhist networks.
Major Jain Centres
Jainism developed important religious and institutional centres across different regions of the subcontinent.
- Vaishali: associated with Mahavira’s life.
- Rajagriha: important early centre.
- Mathura: major centre of Jain activity and art.
- Ujjain and western India: important for Jain communities.
- Shravanabelagola: major Jain centre in Karnataka.
Jain communities developed strong regional networks, particularly through merchants, urban groups and monastic traditions.
Development of Buddhist Sects and Schools
Buddhism did not remain a single uniform tradition. Differences over doctrine, monastic discipline and interpretation contributed to the emergence of different schools and traditions.
- Sthavira traditions
- Mahasanghika traditions
- Sarvastivada
- Theravada
- Mahayana
- Vajrayana
These developments occurred over long periods and should not be treated as a single historical split occurring at one moment.
Early Buddhist Sectarian Developments
Sthavira traditions
Sthavira traditions placed considerable importance on monastic discipline and developed into several later schools.
Mahasanghika traditions
Mahasanghika traditions represented another major stream in early Buddhism. They contributed to the diversity of Buddhist thought.
Theravada Tradition
Theravada is a Buddhist tradition that traces its lineage through the ancient Buddhist tradition preserved in Sri Lanka and later developed strongly in mainland and island Southeast Asia.
The Pali Canon became particularly important in the Theravada tradition.
Development of Mahayana Buddhism
Mahayana developed gradually through new philosophical, devotional and religious movements within the wider Buddhist world.
Emphasis on the bodhisattva path and compassion.
A growing body of Mahayana literature shaped new forms of thought.
Devotional approaches became increasingly important in several traditions.
Mahayana traditions became influential across Central and East Asia.
Vajrayana and Later Buddhist Development
Vajrayana developed within the wider Mahayana Buddhist world, particularly from the first millennium CE onward.
- Tantric practices.
- Mantras and ritual techniques.
- Mandalas and visual symbolism.
- Specialised initiation traditions.
Vajrayana became particularly influential in Tibet, Himalayan regions and parts of Central Asia.
Spread of Buddhism Beyond India
Buddhism eventually became a major transregional religion. Monks, merchants, diplomats and cultural exchanges contributed to its spread.
Theravada Buddhism became deeply established.
Important transmission zone between India and East Asia.
Buddhism entered through multiple routes and developed distinctive Chinese traditions.
Theravada and other Buddhist traditions became influential in different regions.
Buddhism spread from China and influenced Korean culture.
Buddhist traditions entered through Korea and China and developed into several schools.
Complete Revision Capsule
| Theme | Key Points |
|---|---|
| Early spread | Ganga valley, Magadha, Kosala, Vajji and neighbouring regions. |
| Major patron | Ashoka played a major role in supporting and transmitting Buddhism. |
| Monastic institution | Sangha, monasteries and networks of monks and nuns. |
| Economic support | Rulers, merchants, householders and other lay donors. |
| Important centres | Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Kushinagara, Rajagriha, Vaishali, Sanchi and Nalanda. |
| Buddhist schools | Sthavira traditions, Mahasanghika, Sarvastivada, Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana. |
| Jain centres | Vaishali, Rajagriha, Mathura, western India and Shravanabelagola. |
| International spread | Sri Lanka, Central Asia, China, Southeast Asia, Korea, Japan and Tibet/Himalayan regions. |
End of Self-Learning Flipbook
Spread and Development of Buddhism and Jainism
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