Buddhism in Southern Asia #268548

I. Introductory. — I. I mportcmce of the Study The importance of the study of Buddhism is evident in the fact that for more than twenty centuries it has swayed the destiny of uncounted millions of men. Having its origin in that portion of the famous and fertile plain of the Ganges still occupied by the ancient cities of Patna (pataiiputra), Benares (kan), and Oudh (ayothia), it has spread in varying form over vast regions of Southern, Central, and Eastern Asia and their adjoining islands. A part of this Gangetic territory belonged to Magadha, so celebrated in Buddhist annals, now known as Behar, a corruption of Vihara Land, which was so named on account of the great number of sacred buildings (vihara) erected for monks and for Buddhist Observances.