Hyderabad: The number of people getting inspired by Buddhism and its principles has been on the rise in the Telugu speaking states, especially in Telangana, in the last five - six years.
Scores of people attending Buddha Jayanti meetings held every year on May 21 at Lumbini Park is a pointer to this, says the Buddhist Society of India (BSI), the national body founded by Dr B.R. Ambedkar in 1955.
Mr R. Subba Rao (retired IAS), former DGP Mr C. Anjaneya Reddy, Mr Veeranarayana Reddy (retired IPS), Prof. Kancha Ilaiah, senior advocate Mr Bojja Tharakam, senior journalist, Mr Mallepalli Lakshmaiah, Prof. P. Sivanagi Reddy, writer Borra Govardhan are some of the prominent names influenced by the Buddha’s life and teachings.
According to Mr Kittaiah, a former railway employee who had headed the BSI state body in undivided AP, people are inclined towards Buddhism because it does not believe in caste distinctions.
“It is opposed to the caste system and regards people of all castes equally. Vexed with caste discrimination in the society, Dalits, most of them Ambedkar followers, are taking to Buddhism. Rationalists from backward and upper castes are also embracing Buddhism,” the BSI member said.
In Telangana, a major chunk of the Buddhist population is in Adilabad due to its common border with Maharashtra, which has the biggest presence of Buddhists in the country. Nearly 25,000 followers reside in Adilabad.
In AP, Buddhism is finding acceptance in Visakhapatnam, West and East Godavari districts as well as in Nellore. People embracing Buddhism should follow the triple gems of Buddhism and five precepts, stated a resident monk from Maha Bodhi Buddha Vihar located in Secunderabad.
“Buddhist followers regularly visit the temple. On special occasions like birthdays, birth and death anniversaries they come and give offering to monks. Some attend chanting and meditation prayers,” he added.
Senior journalist Mr Mallepalli Lakshmaiah said that there were quite a few Buddhist sites in both the Telugu states. Nagarjunakonda, Phanigiri, Dhulikhatta etc. in Telangana, and Amaravati, Vijayapuri and Shalihundam in AP are some of the most popular sites visited by Hindus and Buddhists. “Transition from Hinduism to Buddhism is easy. Buddhism doesn’t interfere with existing beliefs. One can be part-Hindu and part-Buddhist,” he said.
Meanwhile social scientist Mr B.S. Ramulu said that reservation was not the criteria for those embracing Buddhism. “The social discrimination is a major factor. They do not think about reservation. In Maharashtra, Buddhists fought for separate reservation and got it. They were not ready to be treated as Buddhists using SC reservations,” he said.
