Abstract
The rise and decline of Buddhism are both significant events in Indian history. Buddhism, which emerged in the sixth century BCE, profoundly influenced Indian society, culture, philosophy, and politics; however, its influence in India waned by the twelfth–thirteenth centuries. Historians differ on the causes of Buddhism's decline. Some scholars attribute it to external causes such as the decline of royal patronage, the resurgence of Brahmanical religion, and the Hun and Turkic invasions, while other historians regard the internal divisions within the Buddhist Sangha as an equally important factor.
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Rahul Kumar Jha
Research Scholar, Department of Buddhist Studies, University of Delhi
Received: 14-10-2025, Accepted: 10-12-2025, Published Online: 01-06-2026