Spread Of Budhism – iTopper IAS Academy

Buddha had two kinds of disciples- monks (bhikshus) and lay worshippers (upasikas)
Sangha- organized by the monks for the purpose of spreading his teachings
The membership was open to all persons, male or female and without any caste restrictions
Famous monks- Sariputta, Moggallanna, Ananda
Progress- Magadha, Kosala, Kausambi and several Republican states of North India embraced this religion
About 200 years after the death of Buddha, the famous Mauryan Emperor Asoka embraced Buddhism
Transformation from a local religious sect into a world religion- Through the missionary effort of Asoka Buddhism spread into West Asia and Ceylon