Richard Salomon's essay explores the complex and controversial question of why Buddhism disappeared from India around the 13th century after thriving for over a millennium. Critiquing the common practice of listing multiple, disconnected causes—such as loss of patronage, persecution, internal decay, and Muslim invasions—Salomon argues that asking "why" is less fruitful than asking "how" the decline occurred. He contrasts the two dominant scholarly narratives - the "friendly embrace" theory, which posits that Hinduism peacefully assimilated a weakened Buddhism (Monier-Williams, R.C. Mitra), and the opposing view of relentless hostility and persecution (Giovanni Verardi). Through an analysis of several inscriptions, Salomon demonstrates a long and complex process of syncretism and absorption, showing the Buddha's incorporation as an avatāra of Viṣṇu, the equation of Buddhist and Hindu deities, and the veneration of Hindu gods like Vāsudeva within Buddhist contexts from an early period. Ultimately, he concludes that the most compelling explanation for Buddhism's demise is its gradual assimilation into the broader Hindu religious milieu, which caused it to lose its distinct identity over time.
