<Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Marathi Hindi Bengali Sikkimese Tibetan Kannada </Td> </Tr> <P> Buddhism is a world religion, which arose in and around the ancient Kingdom of Magadha (now in Bihar, India), and is based on the teachings of Siddhārtha Gautama who was deemed a "Buddha" ("Awakened One"). Buddhism spread outside of Magadha starting in the Buddha's lifetime . </P> <P> With the reign of the Buddhist Mauryan Emperor Ashoka, the Buddhist community split into two branches: the Mahāsāṃghika and the Sthaviravāda, each of which spread throughout India and split into numerous sub-sects . In modern times, two major branches of Buddhism exist: the Theravāda in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia, and the Mahāyāna throughout the Himalayas and East Asia . </P> <P> The practice of Buddhism as a distinct and organized religion lost influence after the Gupta reign (c. 7th century CE), and declined from the land of its origin in around 13th century, but not without leaving a significant impact . Except for Himalayan region and south India, Buddhism almost became extinct in India after the arrival of Islam in late 12th century . Presence of Buddhism is still found in the Himalayan areas such as Sikkim, Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, the Darjeeling hills in West Bengal, and the Lahaul and Spiti areas of upper Himachal Pradesh . According to the 2011 census, Buddhists make up 0.7% of India's population, or 8.4 million individuals . Traditional Buddhists are 13% and Navayana Buddhists (Converted or Neo-Buddhists) comprise more than 87% of Indian Buddhist community according to 2011 Census of India . </P>

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