Buddhism under Bhoi Dynasty

[Full title: Political and Religious History of Orissa (17): Buddhism under Bhoi Dynasty]

Buddhism suffered a lot during the reign of Pratprudra Deva of Gajapati dynasty, but under his successor Mukunda Harichandana of Bhoi dynasty (1559-1568) (Sahu, Mishra & Sahu 1991:253), Buddhist’s got some support. According to Sambhala-lam-yig, initially Mukundadeva was a follower of Brahmanical Hinduism but later under the influence of his queen became a believer of Buddha. It is also mentioned that poet Balarama Dasa who had left the court of Gajapatis under the displeasure of Prataprudra, returned during the reign of Mukunda Deva (Mitra 1959:99). To show his respect to Buddha and his religion he got erected many Buddhist structures in the country of Odivisa. The above is corroborated by the statement of Taranath, who states that Mukandadeva is credited with erecting Buddhist temples and a few monasteries in Odivasa. This is further attested to by Sampo-Khampa a Tibetan writer, who wrote in the Pag-Sam-Jon-Zan that Buddhists were found in large number residing in Mukandeva’s territories (Vasu 1911:23). Orissa was untouched by Muslim invasion till 1568 that made this region a new home for Buddhist refugees from the north. Taranath also records the dispersal of the Buddhist scholars to Orissa among other places, after the destruction of the monasteries of Vikramshila and Odantapuri. Taranath also states that his guru Buddha Gupta also visited many sacred places like Jagannath and Jharikhanda and the renowned stupa at Hari Bhanja or Mayurbhanj (Mitra 1911:99).

After the death of Mukandeva in the battle with the Sultan of Bengal, Buddhism declined (1568 CE) and here after there is no evidence of any donation or constructional activity. It is believed that the Buddhists of Orissa like the Buddhists from other parts of India during the Muslim inroads in Orissa fled to Tibet and Himalayan region (Dutta 1962:31-32). Besides the rich heritage left throughout the state in the form of monasteries, stupas, and large number of votive stupas, sculptures and other art remains; it contributed to the development of Orissan architecture and iconography. The Buddhist doctrine of Sunyata (void) was subsequently accepted by the Orissan school of Vaishnavism (Pradhan 1984: 165).

The followers of Buddhism were made to believe that in the Kali-yuga, the Buddhists must disguise themselves and worship Hari who had been incarnated as Buddha and must wait patiently till Buddha reappears again (Mitra 1959:102). In Dharmapujavidhana, Jagannath is called the Buddha incarnation of Hari. In the sixteenth century Buddhism though in a fallen condition, it was a prevalent and highly influential creed in Orissa, influencing the thoughts and lives, purifying the hearts and minds of many thousands of her neglected children outwardly professing other creeds.