Why did Buddhism start declining in India in the early medieval times?

1. Buddha was by that time considered as one of the incarnations of Vishnu and thus became part of Vaishnavism.
2. The invading tribes from Central Asia till the time of last Gupta king adopted Hinduism and persecuted Buddhists.
3. The kings of Gupta dynasty were strongly opposed to Buddhism.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 1 and 3 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Explanation

Statement 1 is Correct

• By the Gupta period, Buddha was assimilated as the 9th avatar of Vishnu, weakening Buddhism’s independent identity.

Statement 2 is Incorrect

• There is no evidence of systematic persecution of Buddhists by Central Asian tribes.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• Gupta rulers like Samudragupta and Kumaragupta patronised Buddhism (Nalanda flourished under them).

Answer: (a) 1 only