ROYAL PATRONAGE OF BUDDHISM IN ANCIENT INDIA

Abstract

The Royal patronage is very much concerned with the success and propagation of Buddhism in ancient India and across the Indian boarder. The liberal patronage of kings, republican chiefs and wealthy and influential persons were valuable assets to the Buddha. As he was himself born as the son of a republican chief he was intimately connected with the contemporary royal families. Further, despite the fact the he adopted a democratic organization for his Sangha, the Buddha did not reject a monarchical system of government; rather he advocated strong political power. It made it easier for him to enlist for him to enlist the patronage of kings of his time. It is also to be mentioned here that Buddhism was in tune with the changing economic patterns of the contemporary society. The practicable doctrines of Buddhism influenced the large number of the leading Seth is of the period, who formed the spearhead of economic growth were among the main supporters of the Buddha. Prof. A. L. Basham rightly says that the greatest number of the patrons of Buddhism were members of the rising middle class’ of merchants and crafts man of the better and more highly skilled out. We have sufficient archaeological evidence in the form of votive inscriptions’ which indicates that the merchants or Seth is provided the funds for the construction of the great Stupas and Cave monasteries.