Question

Which of the following is true regarding History of Buddhism in India?
A. The Turkish killed large number of Buddhist monks in Bihar 
B. The Brahmana Pashyamitra Shunga persecuted the Buddhists 
C. The Huna king Mihirakula killed hundreds of Buddhists 
D. The Shaivite Shashanka of Gauda felled the Bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya 
E. Hsuan Tsang stated that 1600 stupas and monasteries were destroyed and thousands of monks killed 
Choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below :

• A. A, D and E only
• B. A and E only
• C. A only
• D. A, B, C, D and E

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

To determine which of the statements about the history of Buddhism in India are true, let's examine each statement individually:

1. Statement A: The Turkish killed large number of Buddhist monks in Bihar
   This statement is true. Historical records suggest that invasions by Turkish forces led to the decline of Buddhism in places like Bihar, where significant centers of Buddhism were located, and monks were indeed killed during these invasions.
2. Statement B: The Brahmana Pashyamitra Shunga persecuted the Buddhists
   This statement is also true. Pashyamitra Shunga, who founded the Shunga dynasty after overthrowing the Mauryan empire, is often associated with the decline of Buddhism due to his Brahmanical leanings and is believed to have persecuted Buddhists.
3. Statement C: The Huna king Mihirakula killed hundreds of Buddhists
   This statement is true. Mihirakula, a ruler of the Huna lineage, was notoriously known for his distaste towards Buddhism and his acts of violence against Buddhists.
4. Statement D: The Shaivite Shashanka of Gauda felled the Bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya
   This statement is true. Shashanka of Gauda, a known adversary of Buddhism, is believed to have cut down the sacred Bodhi tree, under which Gautama Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment.
5. Statement E: Hsuan Tsang stated that 1600 stupas and monasteries were destroyed and thousands of monks killed
   This statement is true according to the accounts of the Chinese traveler and scholar Hsuan Tsang (also known as Xuanzang), who documented the destruction of Buddhist institutions during his travels in India.

Based on the examination of each statement, all statements (A, B, C, D, and E) are true. Thus, the correct option is:

A, B, C, D and E