Synopsis In Glimpses of Buddhist Bengal, Dr. Malaysankar Bhattacharya considers the reasons behind the growth of Buddhism in Eastern India, its decline and marginalization and its traces that survived through centuries despite inhospitable socio-political milieu. A Directory of the major Buddhist sites in Bengal and its adjoining districts presented in this work is virtually a compendium of art and culture that flourished in the region during the heyday of Buddhism. The evolution of Buddhist philosophy during the ancient and medieval times and its overwhelming influence on the people of Eastern India, the birthplace of the faith, shaped the culture of the entire region. The doctrines of Buddhism had to adjust with popular demands which found expression in an elaborate pantheon and numerous rituals of Tantricism.