Buddhism originated in the northeastern part of India, where at that time the ancient states of Magadha, Koshala and Licchavi were located. Its founder, Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha), attained Enlightenment at the age of 35 for the remaining 45 years of his life, traveled across Central India in the Ganges Valley, teaching his followers and disciples. After his death, Buddhism spread widely throughout India and reached its apogee during the reign of Emperor Ashoka and the Mauryan Empire, which were able to unite the Indian subcontinent into one state in the 3rd century BC. BC .. Between IV and X century AD. e. Hinduism in India took over Buddhism and drove it out of its borders (Eng). Subsequently, Buddhism became one of the three world religions, while Hinduism survived as the national religion of the Hindus.