Why did Buddhism start declining in India in the early medieval times ? 1. Buddha was by that time considered as one of the incarnations of Vishnu and thus became a part of Vaishnavism. 2. The invading tribes from Central Asia till the time of last Gupta king adopted Hinduism and persecuted Buddhists. 3. The Kings of Gupta dynasty were strongly opposed to Buddhism. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. The question asks why Buddhism started declining in India in the early medieval times. 2. Statement 1: Suggests Buddha was considered as one of the incarnations of Vishnu and became a part of Vaishnavism. By the medieval period, within Puranic Hinduism, Buddha was indeed often assimilated and regarded as the ninth avatar (incarnation) of Vishnu. This assimilation blurred the distinct identity of Buddhism for some sections of the population and facilitated its absorption into the broader Hindu fold, contributing to its decline as a separate religion in India. This statement is considered a significant factor by many historians. 3. Statement 2: Claims invading tribes from Central Asia till the last Gupta king adopted Hinduism and persecuted Buddhists. While some later invasions (like the Hunas) did damage Buddhist institutions, and some Central Asian groups eventually adopted Hinduism or Islam, attributing a widespread adoption of Hinduism and systematic persecution of Buddhists by all invading tribes up to the end of the Gupta era as a primary cause of decline is historically inaccurate and overly simplistic. Some invaders patronized Buddhism initially. This statement is largely incorrect. 4. Statement 3: Claims the Kings of Gupta dynasty were strongly opposed to Buddhism. The Gupta kings were predominantly Vaishnavites (followers of Vishnu), but they generally practiced religious tolerance. They patronized Hindu institutions but also gave grants to Buddhist monasteries (like Nalanda) and did not actively oppose or persecute Buddhism. Some later Gupta rulers even showed leanings towards Buddhism. This statement is incorrect. 5. Therefore, only statement 1 is considered a correct factor contributing to the decline of Buddhism in India during that period.