Buddhism is only one of several large religions that are practiced in Asia – the others being Islam and Hinduism – so it is only natural to wonder about Buddha from a Hindu perspective.
The idea of Buddha from a Hindu perspective is not as kind as one might think. Buddha is mentioned in the sacred texts of Hinduism, with Buddha being seen as one of the 25 avatars (faces) of Vishnu. Buddha is the 24th of 25 avatars, and closest to a final incarnation of Vishnu (who is the god of gods in Hinduism, or the Supreme Being). Orthodox Hinduism does not agree with any of the teachings of Buddha, however, and Buddhism is considered a nastika (literally, “it is not so”) school of religion because Buddhism disavows the Vedas (texts) of Hinduism.
The beliefs within Hinduism are quite broad, and many different schools and individuals have different views on Buddha himself. When one looks at Buddha from a Hindu perspective, they may see his place as an avatar of Vishnu, or as a person who teaches a similar belief as Hinduism in the fact that he preached a universal truth. Although Buddha is deemed to be one of the avatars or faces of Vishnu, those who pray to Vishnu as the Supreme Being rarely use this avatar as a representation of the god. Instead, they are more likely to see Vishnu as Rama or Krishna.
Buddha has been revered by some prominent Hindus, such as Gandhi, who was inspired by the Buddha's reform and his dedication to beliefs. The Dalai Lama, the most important figure in Tibetan Buddhism, has also been received with a warm welcome at many Hindu events throughout India. The ideas of Buddhism are not completely disavowed within Hinduism, but the fact that Buddhism does teach opposing ideas to certain of the Hindu scriptures means that some orthodox Hindus do not see Buddha as a positive figure.
Buddha also plays a role in several of the most important Hindu texts, including the Puranas. The texts where Buddha is mentioned include: Harivamsha, Vishnu Purana, Bhagavata Purana, Garuda Purana, Agni Purana, and Padma Purana. In some cases, Buddha is mentioned as being a face or avatar of Vishnu that was birthed in order to “mislead the demons”. While some see this as a denunciation of Buddha, others see the incorporation of Buddha into an avatar for Vishnu as a positive sign of acceptance for the Buddha.
Opposing religions are always tough to deal with, and seeing Buddha from a Hindu perspective can illustrate this to a point. Although the two religions are not completely disparate, there are enough differences where Hindus are not always fond of Buddha.
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