Keeping a Mauryan Legacy?

[CandyDragon]

How can we, with a PoD of 185 BCE or later, (the historical fall of the Mauryan dynasty) maintain a legacy of either a united India and a Buddhist India?

Both of these are perhaps the Mauryan's most famous contributions to Indian history– they were not merely the first empire to come close to uniting India, they were the first great Indian Empire, and the last to come close to uniting India until the Mughals. Additionally, under Ashoka, the Empire was famously converted to Buddhism. So how can we prevent a Buddhist decline and aid in a United Indian subcontinent?

 

[The Ubbergeek]

For Buddhism, there was apparently a few factors, like late vedism taking influences from it to reform into what we know as Modern Hinduism, the targetting of monasteries and all by muslim forces..

 

[CandyDragon]

For Buddhism, there was apparently a few factors, like late vedism taking influences from it to reform into what we know as Modern Hinduism, the targetting of monasteries and all by muslim forces..

I'm aware of the influx of Buddhist influences into Vedic Brahmanism, but I'm not sure how that can be forestalled. Once it's clear that that's a definite pro in the view of worshippers, logic dictates that the brahmans would have to reform somewhat. Not to mention that many of these Buddhist converts came from their caste. If they wanted to preserve themselves, they had to somehow stem the flow.

Of course, with a PoD in 185 BCE or around that time, Islam is butterflied away, and it's likely that we won't see such cataclysmic destruction at the hand of *Muslims.

 

[The Ubbergeek]

I'm aware of the influx of Buddhist influences into Vedic Brahmanism, but I'm not sure how that can be forestalled. Once it's clear that that's a definite pro in the view of worshippers, logic dictates that the brahmans would have to reform somewhat. Not to mention that many of these Buddhist converts came from their caste. If they wanted to preserve themselves, they had to somehow stem the flow.

Of course, with a PoD in 185 BCE or around that time, Islam is butterflied away, and it's likely that we won't see such cataclysmic destruction at the hand of *Muslims.

The thing is, it is an important part of the deal - the reformated Hinduism-now oiffered some parts similar, so peoples was happy in many cases...

Maybe a more populist form of Buddhism, too - there may have been a certain elitism and a certain focus on monachism and such, à la Theravada.... It may have not helped the cause.

 

[Stuyvesant]

just gonna post one of these... mad:)

 

[Kishan]

The fall of Mauryan Empire was a great disaster for India and also Buddhism. But the unity and the strength of the empire depended too much on the personality of the emperor in those days. The establishment of the Mauryan Empire itself was an accomplishment of a genius like Chanakya and the prowess of Chandragupta Maurya. The Chandragupta had able successors like Bindusara and Ashoka. But the successors of Ashoka were not strong enough to carry on. If Kunala, the able son of Ashoka was not blinded as a result of a conspiracy, he might have made a successful emperor. The Maurya Empire failed to develop a self-sustaining bureaucracy as in China, able to carry on under weak rulers. All empires in India faced the same problem. The Guptas were successful under powerful emperors like Samudragupta, Vikramaditya or Kumaragupta. The Cholas were successful under emperors like Rajaraja or Rajendra. Mughals maintained their power when they had able emperors like Akbar, Jahangir or Shahjahan. All empires were based on the ability of certain individuals and collapsed when able rulers were not available.

The Buddhism disappeared from India due to various reasons. The growth of Buddhism was due to the growth of many superstitions and rituals like animal and even human sacrifices. The arrival of Buddhism and Jainism led to the stoppage of many of the bloody sacrifices. The rulers and the merchants had supported Buddhism and gave liberal contributions to the Sanghas. But as Hinduism adopted many of the features of Buddhism, especially non-violence and vegetarianism, Buddhism also adopted certain rituals and beliefs of Hinduism. Buddha himself was adopted as an avatar of Vishnu. In India, before the advent of Islam, the religions were not exclusive as in the Semitic world.It was similar to the East Asian system where one could follow different religious systems simultaneously. Thus Buddhism became indistinguishable from Hinduism and lost its identity. In fact Shaivism and Vaishnavism were like separate religions, often feuding along with Buddhism, Jainism and Shakteya traditions. In course of time every system came under the label of Hinduism.