Rahul Sankrityayan and His Contribution to Indian Buddhism: With Special Reference to the Teaching and Philosophy

Abstract

Rahul Sankrityayan's contributions to Indian Buddhism included historical investigation, textual analysis, translation, and distribution. Being a polyglot and a passionate traveller, he made difficult trips throughout Tibet, India, Nepal, and Central Asia to recover long-lost Buddhist texts, many of which were kept in monastic libraries. Written in Pali, Sanskrit, and Tibetan, these writings offered crucial insights into the development of Buddhism's doctrine and its historical dissemination throughout the Indian subcontinent and beyond. In addition to enhancing Buddhist studies in India, his attempts to bring these writings back to the country brought attention to the historical ties between India and its neighbours. Sankrityayan, a fervent supporter of social change and rationality, saw Buddhism as a progressive ideology that promoted ethics, equality, and reason. His works made Buddhist philosophy more widely available by exposing readers to its humanistic and scientific facets. In addition, his thorough translations and commentary on Buddhist texts gave academics reliable and thorough materials for researching early and Mahayana Buddhism. In addition to his scholarly accomplishments, Rahul Sankrityayan dedicated his life to reviving a tradition that significantly influenced Indian culture. This paper examines his contributions and interpretations of Buddhist teachings and philosophy.