Why do most Buddhist temples in Thailand, Sri Lanka and other countries keep a deity of Lord Vishnu?

Question

I know that Hindus count Lord Buddha as one of the ten primary avatars of Lord Vishnu. Do Buddhists also view Him this way?

When I travelled to Sri Lanka a few years ago, some Buddhist monks told me that on Lord Buddha's personal visit to their island, He instructed them to worship Lord Visnu for protection in His absence.

In Nepal and Burma the line between Hinduism and Buddhism also seems quite blurred. Are these traditions essentially integrated, or are they at their cores, mutually exclusive. What does one provide that the other lacks?

Answer 1

For thousands of years India has been a veritable laboratory of religion: everything imaginable has been tried out, and nothing ever has completely been rejected.

Dalai Lama has said: “When I say that Buddhism is part of Hinduism, certain people criticize me. But if I were to say that Hinduism and Buddhism are totally different, it would not be in conformity with truth.”

source: Who is a Hindu? – By Koenraad Elst p

Buddhism was assimilted in main stream Hinduism quite early.
Buddha followers used to get sevices of Hindu priests for ceremonies like marriage etc.

The Hindu religious system can be divided into two major systems.

The Orthodox system (called astika in Sanskrit) accepts the authority of the Vedas.

The Heterdox (Nastika) system rejects the authority of the Vedas. This system includes Carvaka (materialism), Jainism, and Buddhism

Lay man in India accepted Buddha just as they had accepted all great men like Teerthankars before him and like Kabir, Nanak etc afterwards.

Since most of the followers were Hindu and Buddhist at the same time , It is not surprising that you get Vishnu icons in Buddha temple.

You can not be even sure that it was not originally a Vishnu temple which also started accepted Buddha.

Answer 2

No, they don't. They do it probably to respect the beliefs of Hindus over there. That is because most of the Buddhists and Hindus know the meaning of "religious tolerance". I have never seen any Buddhist temples with Vishnu though. Buddha was silent about God and Buddhists do not worship Buddha as a God. I don't know what monks you are talking about.

Answer 3

Hindus believe that the Buddha was an avatar (incarnation) of Vishnu.

Answer 4

in INDIA , though buddha denounced the veda(brahmanical interpretation),yet he was accepted,
if u deeply go into details there is no difference b/w hinduism & buddhism philosophically

Answer 5

cause he looks cool j/k i dont know but go to ask.com and probaly they'll help u on that.

Answer 6

because this deity is cool.