The West was more conservative than the East.

It was the home of the rites it favored.

The East was but a foster-father.

New tribes, new land, new growth, socially and intellectually,--all these contributed in the new seat of Brahmanhood to weaken the hold of the priests upon their speculative and now recalcitrant laity.

So before Buddha there were heretics and even Buddhas, for the title was Buddha's only by adoption.