Hinyana and Mahayana

Distinction between Hinyanism &Mahayanism  

           During the reign of Kanishka when the fourth Buddhist council was held,and it divided into two sects Hinayana and Mahayana. Kanishka was the powerful Kushan ruler and a staunch devotee of Buddhism. The followers of the Hinayana and Mahayana, school of Buddhism believed in the old religion propounded by Lord Buddha and the devotees of the Mahayana school made certain changes of their own choice. This event is called the transformation of Buddhism.

Their differences are following-

1-Idol Worship-The followers of the Hinayana used to regard the Buddha as a great man. They never worshipped him as a god. But the followers of the Mahayana used to worship Lord Buddha as a god. They constructed of Lord Buddha and started worshipping him as the Hindus worshiped their gods.

2-Faith in Place of Reason-Lord Buddha had preached his followers not to accept anything blindly.It is the self efforts of a man which bring the fruit of salvation to him. Hence, Hinayana school stressed personal efforts. But the Mahayanists emphasised the worship of lord Buddha.

3-Pali was replaced by Sanskrit-The followers of Hinayana,wrote their entire literature in Pali, while Sanskrit language was patronised by the Mahayanasts. They composed their books in Sanskrit.

4-Worship of Bodhisatva-Besides the worship of Lord Buddha the devotees of the Mahayana school of Buddhism started worshipping those Buddhist monks who achieved prominence due to their piety. Idols of such monks were also made and installed in temples due to their high standard of morality and chastity.

5-Theory of Heaven instead of Nirvana-The ultimate aim of human life during the lifetime of the Buddha was to attain Nirvana which was replaced by heaven. In fact, the common masses masses failed to understand the significance of nirvana and the missionaries in order to lure the innocent Hindus into Buddhism propagated the theory of heaven. It was done with a view to checking the rising popularity of Hinduism.

6-Beginning of prayer and offering-The  Buddha vehemently criticised prayers and offering and the Hinayana stuck to this principle. But Mahayana not only made images of Lord Buddha and placed them on a pedestal but also offered prayers and offerings before them . Thus the Buddha was offered flowers and fruits as the idols of the gods and goddesses of Hindus were offered.
Thus, these are the differences of Hinayana and Mahayana went on accumulating with the passage of the time, and at last reached such a point where the difference between Hinduism and Buddhism was reduced to nothingness, and they mingled with each other completely.