Rise of Vaishnavism and Shaivism. Growth of regional cultures. Saivite cult devoted to Shiva, god of destruction, begins. 372 Buddhism introduced into Korea. Saktism , mother goddess cult, begins.
Followers worship female, creative aspect of Brahma.
500 - 700 Composition of the early Tantras. 711 Arabs conquer Sind in the Northwest. 788-820 Shankara , Saivite philosopher and founder of Advaita Vedanta sect, opposes Buddhism and other popular, ascetic religious groups. He establishes four pivotal monasteries at four corners of India c. 800 Live of Manikkavachakar, Tamil Shaiva poet-saint and author of Tiruvachakam . 860 King Balaputra of Sumatra, Indonesia, establishes a Buddhist monastery at Nalanda near Bodh Gaya in the Northeast.