ARCHIVES
VOL. 11, ISSUE 6 (2025)
A comparative study of buddhist flourishing in Asia and Its regression in India: A socio-civilizational perspective
Authors
Dheeraj Pratap Mitra
Abstract
Buddhism occupies a unique position in the civilizational landscape of
Asia. Born in the fertile intellectual milieu of sixth-century BCE India, it
rapidly developed into one of the most influential philosophical and religious
traditions of the ancient world. Yet its historical trajectory presents a
profound paradox as while Buddhism flourished across China, Tibet, Mongolia,
Cambodia and large parts of Southeast Asia, it simultaneously experienced a
marked decline within its land of origin. This paper is an attempt to explore
that divergence through a civilizational and sociological lens seeking to
understand how cultural structures, political systems and religious
environments shaped Buddhism’s rise abroad and its regression in India. The
study integrates insights from Weber’s theory of religious charisma and
routinization, Durkheim’s ideas on collective consciousness and Berger’s
conception of religion as a meaning-making system along with theories of
cultural diffusion and syncretism. By comparing the adaptive strategies of
Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism in Asia with the shifting political,
linguistic, religious landscape of India, the article highlights how patronage
networks, institutional resilience and cultural receptivity played decisive
roles. The analysis suggests that Buddhism succeeded in Asia because it aligned
with local spiritual needs, integrated harmoniously with indigenous traditions
and received consistent state support. In contrast in India the resurgence of
Brahmanical traditions, the Bhakti movement’s mass appeal, the decline of
monastic universities and political upheavals weakened Buddhism’s institutional
base. The study ultimately underscores that the fate of a religion is shaped
not merely by its philosophy but by the civilizational ecosystem that sustains
it. This comparative inquiry deepens our understanding of religious
transformation in Asia and offers broader reflections on cultural continuity,
identity formation, the sociological dynamics of belief systems etc.
Download
Pages:70-82
How to cite this article:
Dheeraj Pratap Mitra "A comparative study of buddhist flourishing in Asia and Its regression in India: A socio-civilizational perspective". International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Research, Vol 11, Issue 6, 2025, Pages 70-82
Download Author Certificate
Please enter the email address corresponding to this article submission to download your certificate.