The Early History of India, from 600 B.C. to the Muhammadan Conquest, including the Invasion of Alexander the Great c31.s2.12

c31.s2.12

Buddhism, in its early pure form, was introduced into the valley by Asoka, whose daughter is believed to have erected sacred edifices near the capital, which are still pointed out. Little or nothing is known concerning the religious history of the country for many hundred years afterwards. In the seventh century the prevailing religion appears to have been a much modified Tantric variety of the ‘Great Vehicle’ Buddhist doctrine, allied so closely to the orthodox Hindu cult of Siva as to be distinguishable from it with difficulty.