By the first phase of the Vishnu Kund rule, Buddhism had spread in the society.
The first generation Vishnu Kund rulers have patronized Buddhism though they themselves were the followers of Vedic religion.
Vishnu Kund kings:
State of Buddhism
Might have constructed on Buddhist arama Viharas on all four sides of their kingdom and
Might have undertaken repairs and extensions to the already existing ones.
Vishnukunds were the last Telugu kings who patronized Buddhism.
By the end of 5th century B.C, to the south of Krishna river, in Amaravati and Nagarjunakonda areas another important branch in Buddhism- Vajrayana has taken shape.
Buddhist Sangha relating to vajrayana branch:
women, wine, mutton, deceitful mantras have all entered
Gradually losing purity and affection of the people
At last, they became infamous places of liars and women-seekers.
Another development that has taken shape in Buddhism, has been the Brahmin supremacy in Buddhist Sanghas and arama –
These Brahamins gradually painted Buddha as the ninth avatar of Vishnu.
As a result, some Buddhist holy Centers got turned into Vaishnava holy centers.
They turned into Narasimha temples.
Dharmapur had been a Buddhist area right from Buddha time. During the time of Vishnukunds, it got changed to Ramalingeswara Swamy and Narsimha Swamy temples.
Accordingly, Kannada literary text reveals that Prior to Vishnu Kundin, the Srisailam (or Sri Parvata) and Amrabad area was dominated by the widespread use of Jainism.
But, during the Vishnukundins period , the followers of the Kapalika sect of Savism with their magic skills and Mantras, became responsible for the decline of Jainism.
Jain temples became Saiva Temples.
One such example was Srisailam Temple.
Kumarilabhattu born in Andhra received Jain education in the beginning, but after realizing that there is nothing that could be appreciated in Jainism, Condemned Jainism and attracted many Jains into Vedic religion.
Indra Varma, the first king among the Vishnukundins, was also one among them.
