Timeline 1056-1400 (Theravada India)

In 1056, Theravada Buddhist Monk Shin Arahan set out from Thaton to convert the King of Pagan, Anawrahta, to Theravada Buddhism. He was injured however, and forced to wait a year. By the time he recovered, Anawrahta had declared war on Thaton, due to his wish to combat the Khmer Empire's expansion westward. Thus, Shin Arahan traveled to the Pala Empire and managed to convert its king, Vigrahapala III, to Theravada Buddhism.

In 1069, civil war gripped the Chola Empire. The King of Sri Lanka, Vijayabahu, saw this weakness and attacked the Chola in attempt to liberate northern Sri Lanka. He called for his fellow Theravada Buddhists to help him in this war, and with Pala's help, he was victorious. Vijayabahu wished to restore Theravada Buddhism to its once glorious state in Sri Lanka, and requested help, once more, from Pala. Vigrahapala's successor, Mahipala II, sent monks, who ordained new monks, helped rebuild temples, and taught Buddhist scriptures. Within a decade, Theravada Buddhism was restored in Sri Lanka, and by 1097, the Theravadins wished to begin proselytising out of Sri Lanka.

Knowing of the great Shin Arahan, now religious advisor to the king of Pala, Ramapala, had first attempted to convert the inhabitants of Southeast Asia to Theravada before giving up and traveling to India, they decided that Southeast Asia is an inferior place for their missionary work. The monks thus decided to travel to the various Hindu or Mayahana states of India to look for converts. They avoided the Cholas, who still despised the Theravada Sri Lankans for their defeat in the war, and instead went to the Hoysalas, in conflict with the Tamils such as the Cholas. As the Hoysala Empire was already used to religious diversity and freedom due to the large Jain population of the land, the Buddhist missionaries were allowed, and were as successful there as they were in Southeast Asia in OTL, converting many of the Kannada people and eventually managing to convert the Hoysala king in 1157, Veera Ballala II, to Theravada.

Meanwhile, Theravada Buddhism was spread in a more militant way by Ramapala, who conquered Assam, Orissa, and much northern Indian territory in attempt to revive his dying empire. By his death, Theravada orders were prominent throughout the area.