📄 Abstract
Buddhism emerged in the sixth century BCE as one of the most influential religious and philosophical traditions in ancient India. Founded by Gautama Buddha, it introduced a new ethical and spiritual framework based on compassion, non-violence, equality, and rational inquiry. The teachings of Buddhism challenged ritualistic practices, social inequalities, and rigid caste distinctions prevalent in contemporary society, thereby fostering significant social transformation. Buddhist principles contributed to the development of education, literature, art, architecture, and political thought, while monastic institutions became important centres of learning and cultural exchange. The patronage of rulers, particularly Emperor Ashoka, facilitated the spread of Buddhism across the Indian subcontinent and beyond. This paper examines the role of Buddhism in shaping ancient Indian society by analysing its social, cultural, political, educational, and economic contributions and evaluating its enduring legacy in Indian civilization.
🏷️ Keywords
📚 How to Cite:
Dr. Amrita Ekka , ROLE OF BUDDHISM IN SHAPING ANCIENT INDIAN SOCIETY , Volume 12 , Issue 6, June 2026, EPRA International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (IJMR) , Pages: 96 - 100 , DOI: https://doi.org/10.36713/epra28152