First created: August 15,1997
Last updated:  March 09,2008

Although born and peaked in India, today (1999) Buddhism is more popular outside India than within. We know very little of history of Buddhism till the reign of emperor Ashoka, who transformed Buddhism into a great world religion. In the following pictures, two distinct aspects of Buddhism in India can be seen: one ancient (Ashokan and subsequent) and the other the Buddhism as practiced and advocated by the Tibetans (now in India as refugees).

The contribution of Buddhist teachings on the Hinduism (sixth century B.C. onwards) was great and led to several reforms of Hinduism. Some Hindus believe that Buddha was one of the avatars of Lord Vishnu himself. The contribution of arts inspired by Buddha was also great and can be seen in the caves of Ajanta and many other edicts spread across India. Indeed, the lions of Sarnath became the emblem of free India.

Table of Contents

• Bodhisatva with a Lotus in Hand
• Buddha mediating in "touching the earth" position
• Buddhist Relics
• Carvings on the Arch of Buddhist Stupa
• Emperor Ashoka and the spread of Buddhism
• Fresco of a Celestial Nymph
• Gautama Buddha
• The Lions from Sarnath, a monument from Ashoka period
• Lord Buddha from a Sarnath temple painting
• Mayadevi, the Mother of Buddha
• Meditating Buddha
• A Serene Statue of Lord Buddha
• Statue of Buddha from a Cave in Ajanta
• Statue of Lord Buddha
• A Stupa of Sanchi Showing the Decorated Entrance
• Tibetan boy goes to fetch water for the monastery
• Tibetan Buddhist Women Dancing in Dharmasala

• Biography of Acharya Kosambi, a great Buddhist scholar

* Contents excerpted from The Timeless Theater CD-ROM

References:

• Kamat K.L., The Timeless Theater