History of Theravada Buddhism in Arunachal Pradesh

Buddhism is one of the oldest and largest religions in the world founded by Siddhartha Gautama or Buddha around the 5th century BCE and now expands across Asia and the rest of the world. Interestingly both the Mahayana and the Theravada schools of Buddhism in Arunachal Pradesh did not arrive at Arunachal Pradesh from mainland India the Monpa brought the Mahayana Buddhism from Tibet and the Theravada Buddhism was brought by the Khamti the Singpho and the Tikhak Tangsa to Arunachal Pradesh. Both schools of Buddhism in Arunachal Pradesh have lots of tribal flavours that beautifully blend with Buddhism. Almost all the villages and towns inhabited by these tribes have many beautiful Buddhist monuments in the form of monasteries stupas and other minor Buddhist structures. An attempt has been made in this work to note the Theravada Buddhist socio-cultural and sculptural arts along with the functional aspects of the monasteries and a range of religious practices of Theravada Buddhist tribes and their rich cultural heritage in the form of dances festivals traditional arts and crafts etc. along with non-Buddhist practices followed by the tribes. Through the present work a comprehensive idea of Theravada Buddhism in Arunachal Pradesh is attempted.