Question

Describe the spread of Buddhism in different parts.

Answer 1

(1) The worship of Bodhisattvas became very popular and spread throughout central Asia, China, and later to Korea and Japan.
(2) Buddhism also spread in western and southern India where dozens of caves were built for monks. Some of these were built by kings and queens, others by merchants and farmers.
These were often built near passes through the Western Ghats. Roads connecting prosperous ports on the coasts with cities in the Deccan ran through these passes. Traders halted in these cave-monasteries during their travels.
(3) Buddhism also spread south, south eastwards: to Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand and other parts of Southeast Asia including, Indonesia. The older form of Buddhism, known as Theravada Buddhism was more popular in these areas.