6_Glorious_Epochs_of_Indian_History

62 SIX GLORIOUS EPOCHS OF INDIAN HISTORY
150. But after his conversion to Buddhism, Asoka carried
out an excessive propaganda in favour of certain Buddhist
principles like Ahimsa and the rest which have caused so
much harm to the Indian political outlook, her political inde­
pendence, and her empire, that it has become absolutely
necessary to discuss at some length here as well as in other
chapters, not only the principles of Asoka but also those of
Buddhism and their practices.
HAIL TO LORD BUDDHA !
161. Before discussing here some of the anti-national
Buddhist preachings and practices and their effects, I consi­
der it my duty to state in the beginning—so that there may
not be any misunderstanding or perversion of my views-that
on the whole, I have a very high regard for Lord Buddha
and his religion. In Indian history there are several lofty
Himalayan peaks of world famous personalities, and the
name of one of those sublime heights is Bhagwan Buddha !
As regards this reverence for him, I too, would gladly join his
disciples in bowing down my head before his idol, saying
'Hail to thee, 0 Lord Buddha !' The Hindu nation too, which
gave birth to such a divine considers him the ninth incarna­
tion of Lord Vishnu.
CAUSES OF THE DECLINE OF BUDDHISM IN INDIA
152. The Buddhist cult for that matter was being
preached in the vicinity of Magadha at least three hundred
years before Asoka. It was mostly propagated, till then, by
persuasion and conviction, on matters of principles. Natur­
ally its progress was slow. It has already been pointed out
in Paragraph No. 16 that till the time of Alexander and
Seleucos Buddhist religion was hardly known in the
Panjab, Sindh, Gandhar and other provinces. The Greeks
knew nothing of it. Good many historians are under the
impression that because Buddhism did not regard the autho­
rity of the Vedas as the highest and because on the whole it