Decline of Indian Buddhist Centers (1130s)

Name: Decline of Indian Buddhist Centers (1130s)
Start: 1131
End: 1140

Type Event Region South Asia Time 1131–1140

In the 1130s, India's major Buddhist centers—Nalanda, Vikramashila, Sarnath, and others—still existed but showed clear signs of decline.

Timeline

1131–1135Nalanda · BiharNalanda, once the world's largest Buddhist monastery-university, now saw a marked decrease in resident monks and visiting students; maintenance of its buildings depended on limited donations, and its scholarly vitality fell far short of the 8th–9th century heyday.
1133–1138Vikramashila (Vikrampur) · BiharVikramashila, a major tantric center, likewise faced a drying up of students and funds; Hindu-leaning regimes such as the Sena dynasty reduced their support for Buddhist monasteries, and the transmission of tantric traditions to Tibet and Southeast Asia accelerated.
1136–1140Religious centers of the Ganges Plain · Uttar PradeshAfter the fall of the Pala dynasty, Buddhism's elite and popular base in Indian society continued to shrink; Hindu temples and Brahminical scholarly centers rose, and Buddhism was gradually marginalized on the Indian subcontinent.

Richard H. Robinson; Sandra Ann Wawrytko; Willard L. Johnson. The Buddhist Religion: A Historical Introduction — Richard H. Robinson 等 (2004)