Originally posted by: vyapti
Have not read this completely. But want to know your thoughts about it. Though I myself don't have time to discuss. Personally I think that the article is a bit biased.
https://bodhitv.tv/article/180207b/
Article is factual mostly but one sided. It is Buddhist sympathetic.
So there is no single mention of the same x similar deeds of rulers who patronized Buddhism.
It was a standard court politics where proponents of 4 religions were trying to gain patronage of rulers and proselytize the state and citizens
Converting one citizen at a time was a very slow process and hence favored method of all 4 religions was to try and convert the ruler and instigate him spread the religion across his state using whatever means he can at the same time weaken and destroy establishment / conclaves/ temples etc of the other.
The four sister religions were Sanatana (Vedic/Pauranic Hinduism). Ajivika (atheism). Jainism and Buddhism.
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Asoka did not become peaceful after Kalinga. He already was under Buddhist influence through his mother and wife and it had acquired state patronage as soon as he became the ruler. Bindusara was under Ajivika influence. Chadragupta Maurya started Hindu and became. Jain by the time he died. Most ruthless Buddhist ruler who did similar destruction of Hindu believers, their religious saints and temples was Asoka. Chanakya was waning influence by the time Asoka came to power and once he died Buddhism became the state religion. Asoka had already patronized Buddhism as commander of Takshila.
Orissa still has scars of the destruction by Buddhist Asoka
While there had been a steady stream of proselytisers to SriLanka and eastern countries of Jain and Buddhist religion. It was Asoka through his son Mahindra and daughter Sanghamitra neutralised Hindu patronage of Lanka Royalty and converted them to Buddhism.
Now Mahendra and Sanghamitra did not oppress or kill Hindus. They may not even have asked their patron Kings to do it. Within his own kingdom the said King would be a peaceful ruler but the moment he stepped out and conquered another land he would use force to convert. He would destroy their religious icons and any establishment that had power over the masses to stoke rebellion.
Asoka did this. Hindus and Brahmin conclave favoured Sushim. Buddhist supported Asoka. When Asoka came to power he not only killed his brothers he killed his every Brahmin supporter and destroyed Hindu Mathas that could stoke rebellion against him.
So can we now blame the Buddhist supporters of Asoka for the carnage and genocide he caused.
The most important part however that is cOmoletwly wrong in that article is Sankaracharya being responsible for oppression of Buddhists by Hindu King's.
He believed and practiced Ahinsa and preached it. He believed in conversion through dialogues and debates. As did Matha established by him. None of them were built on desecrated Vihara. Neither did these math ever encourage their patron kings do desecration of other religious centres
I will give two example to explain this. Tipu Sultan destroyed and desecrated Numerous temples oF Malabar and killed 100s of Brahmins there.
Maratha attacked to destroy Hindu Sringeri Mutt and guess who Came to its rescue and refurbished it. Same Tipu Sultan as it fell in his protectorate
Edited by Chiillii - 4 years ago