Que. “The political and economic needs of rulers combined with economic and status needs of the merchant class, together provided the receptive cultural milieu in which Buddhism flourished.” Comment.
प्रश्न: “शासकों की राजनैतिक व आर्थिक आवश्यकताओं ने व्यापारी वर्ग की आर्थिक व सामाजिक स्थिति की जरूरतों से मिलकर एक साथ ग्रहणशील सांस्कृतिक वातावरण प्रदान किया जिसमें बौद्ध धर्म विकसित हुआ।” टिप्पणी कीजिए।
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Structure: (i) Introduction: Justify the statement by emphasizing the factors contributing to Buddhism’s rise. (ii) Main Body: Discuss political and economic aspects, then explore revisionist views, highlighting the need to consider more than just economic factors. (iii) Conclusion: Acknowledge the combined influence of political, economic, and social factors in Buddhism’s success. |
Introduction:
The emergence and flourishing of Buddhism were influenced by a myriad of factors, key among which were the political, economic, and cultural needs of various classes in society. Buddhism is regarded as a Social Revolution because it had something for everyone eg. It provided legitimacy to rulers and higher status to the merchant class. It is essential to understand the historical and sociopolitical context to appreciate the nuanced relationships that facilitated the growth of Buddhism.
Political Needs of Rules:
(i) Centralised Governance: Rulers used Buddhism to consolidate power. As historian Romila Thapar notes, Emperor Asoka used Buddhist principles to unify the Mauryan Empire.
(ii) Legitimization: D.N. Jha opined that adopting Buddhist principles helped rulers legitimise their authority through moral and ethical governance.
(iii) Harmony and Stability: A.L. Basham has noted that Buddhism’s emphasis on non-violence and social welfare helped rulers maintain peace and stability.
Economic Needs of Merchant Class:
(i) Social Mobility: Richard Gombrich argued that Buddhism’s less rigid social structure allowed the merchant class to gain social status. Nevertheless, there were aspirations of lower varna to enjoy higher status which Buddhism provided them (DN Jha).
(ii) Trade Benefits: K.T.S. Sarao emphasises that the spread of monasteries along trade routes served as rest stops and early financial institutions for merchants. Eg. Xinriu Liu in her study of Silk route found the reciprocal relation between the traders and Monastery of the Silk route.
(iii) Donations and Patronage: Torkel Brekke has explored, the merchant class utilised the act of “Dana” (donation) to Buddhist monasteries as a means to gain both spiritual and social capital.
Receptive Cultural Milieu:
(i) State Patronage: Historians like Hermann Kulke and Dietmar Rothermund are of the opinion that state-sponsored propagation and construction of Buddhist monuments played a pivotal role.
(ii) Merchant Funding: Gregory Schopen mentioned that it is clear that merchant patronage was crucial in building the Buddhist monastic infrastructure.
(iii) Public Engagement: John Strong is of the opinion that the rituals, festivals, and public teachings of Buddhism attracted a broad spectrum of society, adding to its appeal and growth.
Conclusion:
The success and spread of Buddhism were not a single-thread narrative. It was a complex interplay of political, economic, and social factors. In a broader perspective, the success of Buddhism serves as a case study illustrating how religions and philosophies do not develop in a vacuum.
