The first council was called in about 487 B.C. on the occasion of Buddha’s death at Rajagriha, the Capital of Magadha. About five hundred members came to attend the First Buddhist Council. They collected teachings of Buddha and compiled them in three books called Tripitakas (or three Baskets).
What was the main outcome of the first Buddhist Council?
First Buddhist Council- 400 B.C The Agenda of the First Buddhist council was to preserve the teachings (Sutta) of the Buddha and the monastic discipline and guidelines for monks(Vinaya). It was held just after the death of the Buddha. Abhidhamma Pitaka was also recited in this council.
What happened at the Third Buddhist Council in 250 BCE?
The council recommended the ruler Ashoka to expel sixty thousand Mahasangika spies as well as reevaluate the Pāli Canon. It was presided over by the elder monk Moggaliputta-Tissa and one thousand monks participated in the Council.
What was the purpose of Buddhist councils?
Buddhist council, any of several assemblies convened in the centuries following the death of the Buddha to recite approved texts of scriptures and to settle doctrinal disputes.
What happened in 2nd Buddhist Council?
According to the Theravadin account, the Second Council occurred in Vaiśālī. Its purpose was to adjudicate on ten points which amounted to minor infringements of the Vinaya, such as handling money and eating after midday.
What was the main purpose of the third Buddhist conference held Patliputra?
Answer. Answer: It was called to discuss monastic practices, in particular whether monks could be allowed to handle money. It was held in 250 BC at Pataliputra under the patronage of King Asoka.
What was chief objective of Third Buddhist Council?
Third Buddhist Council Main objective was to purify Buddhism from opportunistic factions and corruption in the Sangha. The Abhidhamma Pitaka was composed here making the almost completion of the modern Pali Tipitaka. Buddhist missionaries were sent to other countries. Buddhism preached by Emperor Ashoka was Hinayana.
Why were Buddhist councils called?
Since the death of the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, Buddhist monastic communities ("sangha") have periodically convened to settle doctrinal and disciplinary disputes and to revise and correct the contents of the sutras. These gatherings are often termed "Buddhist councils" (Pali and Sanskrit: saṅgīti).
Why was the first Buddhist Council?
The meeting was led by Mahakasyapa under the patronage of the king Ajātasattu. Its objective was to preserve the Buddha's sayings (suttas) and the monastic discipline or rules (Vinaya).
What happened Buddhist Council?
It was presided by Mahakasyapa, a monk. The council was held in the Sattapani cave at Rajgriha. The council was held with the purpose of preserving Buddha's teachings (Sutta) and rules for disciples. During this council, the teachings of Buddha were divided into three Pitakas.
Who held the Third Buddhist Council?
The third Buddhist council was held in 250 B.C. in Pataliputra under the patronage of King Ashoka. The council was presided over by Mogaliputta Tissa. Through this council, heretics were expelled and Theravada was established as the orthodox school.
Who is called 2nd Buddha?
Padmasambhava, a legendary Buddhist master believed to be instrumental in bringing Buddhism to Tibet, is often known as "The Second Buddha." According to popular legend, Padmasambhava miraculously appeared as a boy in a lotus blossom floating on a lake.
Where was the 4th Buddhist Council convened?
The Fourth Buddhist Council of the Sarvastivada tradition is said to have been convened by the Kushan emperor Kanishka (r. CE 128 to CE 151), perhaps at Harwan, near Srinagar, Kashmir.
Who Organised the 3rd Buddhist Council?
Mauryan king AshokaAccording to the Theravāda commentaries and chronicles, the Third Buddhist Council was convened by the Mauryan king Ashoka at Pātaliputra (today's Patna), under the leadership of the monk Moggaliputta Tissa.
When was the Third Buddhist Council convened and why?
Third Buddhist council was held in 250 BC at Pataliputra under the patronage of King Asoka and under the presidency of Moggaliputta Tissa. The teachings of Buddha which were under two baskets were now classified in 3 baskets as Abhidhamma Pitaka was established in this council, and they were known as “Tripitaka”.
Who Organised the Third Buddhist Council at patliputra?
The third Buddhist council was held in 250 B.C. in Pataliputra under the patronage of King Ashoka. The council was presided over by Mogaliputta Tissa. Through this council, heretics were expelled and Theravada was established as the orthodox school.
Which missionary was sent to Kashmir by the Third Buddhist Council?
According to the Ceylonese Chronicle, after the conclusion of the Third Buddhist Council, Ashoka sent missionaries across countries to spread Buddhism. Majjhantika was sent to Kashmir and Gandhara (modern day Afghanistan).
What is the purpose of Buddhist councils?
Since the death of the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, Buddhist monastic communities (" sangha ") have periodically convened to settle doctrinal and disciplinary disputes and to revise and correct the contents of the sutras. These gatherings are often termed "Buddhist councils" (Pali and Sanskrit: saṅgīti ). Accounts of these councils are recorded in Buddhist texts as having begun immediately following the death of the Buddha and have continued into the modern era.
Who was the leader of the Third Buddhist Council?
According to the Theravāda commentaries and chronicles, the Third Buddhist Council was convened by the Mauryan king Ashoka at Pātaliputra (today's Patna ), under the leadership of the monk Moggaliputta Tissa.
What was the main issue of the Second Council?
The main issue of the council seems to have been related to Vinaya or monastic discipline related to several loose practices by monks at Vaisali. According to traditional sources, disputes over monastic rule at the Second Council resulted in the first schism in the Sangha.
Why were the Abhidharma texts written?
Western scholarship has suggested that the Abhidharma texts were composed starting after 300 BCE because of differences in language and content from other Sutta literature. All six of the surviving Vinaya traditions contain accounts, in whole or in part, of the first and second councils.
How many monks attended the second Buddhist Council?
While inevitably disagreeing on points of details, they nevertheless agree that it was attended by seven hundred monks who met at Vaisali and that the bhikkhus at Vaisali were accepting monetary donations (which led to a controversy).
How long did it take to recite the Buddhist scriptures?
The traditional recitation of the Buddhist Scriptures took two years and the Tripiṭaka and its allied literature in all the scripts were painstakingly examined and their differences noted down and the necessary corrections made and all the versions were then collated. It was found that there was not much difference in the content of any of the texts. Finally, after the Council had officially approved them, all of the books of the Tipitaka and their commentaries were prepared for printing on modern presses and published in the Burmese script. This notable achievement was made possible through the dedicated efforts of the two thousand five hundred monks and numerous lay people. Their work came to an end on the evening of Vesak, 24 May 1956, exactly two and a half millennia after Buddha's Parinibbana, according to the traditional Theravada dating.
What is the Thai Theravada tradition?
The Thai Theravada tradition has a different way of counting the history of Buddhist councils and names many other councils besides the ones listed above. A common Thai historical source for the early councils is the Saṅgītiyavaṁsa (c. 1789) by Somdet Wannarat, abbot of Wat Pho.
Where was the first Buddhist council held?
site of early Buddhist council. The first council, held at Rājagṛha (modern Rājgīr, Bihār state, India), is said to have taken place during the first rainy season following the Buddha’s death.
Where is Rajagriha located?
In Rajgir Hills. …ridges contains the site of Rajagriha (“Royal Residence”), said to have been the residence of the legendary Magadha emperor Jarasandha of the Hindu epic Mahabharata.
What was the history of India?
…defenses of the Magadhan capital, Rajagrha, and built a small fort on the Ganges at Pataligrama, which was to become the famous capital Pataliputra (modern Patna). He then attacked and annexed Kashi and Koshala.
What was the main objective of the Buddha?
Main objective was to preserve the Buddha’s teachings.
Who was the leader of the Council of the Buddha?
It was held in 383 BC, i.e., a hundred years after the Buddha’s death. It was held at Vaishali. Sabakami presided over the council. The main objective was to discuss ten disputed points under the Vinaypitaka.
What did the Mahayana sect believe?
Mahayana sect believed in idol worship, rituals, and Bodhisattvas. They regarded the Buddha as God. Hinayana continued the original teachings and practices of the Buddha. They adhere to the scriptures written in Pali while the Mahayana includes Sanskrit scriptures as well.
What is the most important source of Buddhism?
The most important sources of Buddhism are the Tripitakas / Tipitaka written in the Pali language. They are:
What language is Abhidhamma translated from?
Here, Abhidhamma texts were translated from Prakrit to Sanskrit.
How many Buddhist councils were there?
There are four Buddhist councils, the first one being held around 483 BC under the patronage of King Ajatashatru of the Haryanka Dynasty under Magadha Empire. The other three Buddhist councils were held around 383 BCE, 250 BCE, and 72 AD respectively. Read in this article about Buddhist councils and Pitakas that are Buddhist Texts, for the IAS Exam.
What was the main objective of the Vinaypitaka?
The main objective was to discuss ten disputed points under the Vinaypitaka. The first major split happened here – two groups that would later evolve into Theravada and Mahayana. The first group was called Thera (meaning Elder in Pali). They wanted to preserve the teachings of Buddha in the original spirit.
How did Lord Buddha intoxicate Nalagiri?
By making an agreement with the royal elephant keepers, he was able to intoxicate Nalagiri with alcohol and set him loose onto the streets as the Buddha was returning to the city. When Nalagiri was let loose, the entire town cleared the streets in fear of the rampaging elephant, but the Buddha remained undaunted. When the elephant reached him, Lord Buddha simply placed his hand on Nalagiri’s head, and transmitted the essence of unconditioned love directly into the wild animal. Nalagiri lowered his tusks and bowed in reverence.
Where did the Buddha teach the heart sutra?
Vulture Peak served as the stage for the Buddha’s second turning of the Dharma wheel — his teachings on emptiness. Here, among other Mahayana sutras on emptiness , the Buddha taught the Heart Sutra, the quintessence of the Prajñaparamita Sutras. While closely associated with the Mahayana sutras, Rajagrha is often referenced in the Pali suttas as well.
What was the name of the elephant that the Buddha charged with?
Rajgir, also known as Rajagrha, was the capital of the Magadha kingdom at the time of the Buddha. It was here that the Buddha was ferociously charged by a wild elephant named Nalagiri. Rather than running away or responding with aggression, the Buddha gazed upon Nalagiri with loving eyes, placed his hand on the elephant’s head, and tamed his wild mind on the spot.
What is the most prominent structure on the site of the Buddha's stupa?
The most prominent structure on the site is the Shariputra Stupa. This stupa was built by King Ashoka, well before the establishment of the university and monastery, and it contains the relics of the Buddha’s great disciple Shariputra.
Where did Siddhartha spend his time?
Siddhartha spent time in the city of Rajagrha several years before his great awakening under the Bodhi Tree. The great Magadha capital was the second city he visited after leaving his father’s palace.
Where is Rajgir railway station?
Rajgir railway station is less than 1 km from the town centre. Gaya railway station is the major railhead, about 60 km southwest of Rajgir, and is connected to major cities in the state and other parts of the country.
Where did the Buddha tame the elephant?
The city of Rajagrha is known as the place where the Buddha tamed the raging elephant Nalagiri. As documented in the Pali Canon, amongst other scriptural sources, a resident of Rajagrha named Devadatta, jealous of the Buddha’s prestige, wanted to take his life. After several failed attempts, Devadatta devised a plan to release the town’s wildest elephant, Nalagiri, onto the Buddha.
Overview
Since the death of the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, Buddhist monastic communities ("sangha") have periodically convened to settle doctrinal and disciplinary disputes and to revise and correct the contents of the sutras. These gatherings are often termed "Buddhist councils" (Pali and Sanskrit: saṅgīti). Accounts of these councils are recorded in Buddhist texts as having begun immediately following the death of the Buddha and have continued into the modern era.
First Buddhist council
The first Buddhist council is traditionally said to have been held just after Buddha's Parinirvana, and presided over by Mahākāśyapa, one of His most senior disciples, at a cave near Rājagṛha (today's Rajgir) with the support of king Ajatashatru. Its objective was to preserve the Buddha's sayings (suttas) and the monastic discipline or rules (Vinaya). The Suttas were recited by Ananda, and the Vinaya was recited by Upali. According to Charles Prebish, almost all scholars have questioned t…
Second Buddhist council
The historical records for the so-called "Second Buddhist Council" derive primarily from the canonical Vinayas of various schools. While inevitably disagreeing on points of details, they nevertheless agree that it was attended by seven hundred monks who met at Vaisali and that the bhikkhus at Vaisali were accepting monetary donations (which led to a controversy).
The main issue of the council seems to have been related to Vinaya or monastic discipline relate…
Third council during reign of Ashoka
In striking contrast to the uniform accounts of the Second Council, there are records of several possible "Third Councils". These different accounts often function to authorize the founding of one particular school or other. However, they all at least agree that it took place at Pataliputra, emperor Ashoka's capital.
According to the Theravāda commentaries and chronicles, the Third Buddhist …
The two "Fourth Councils"
By the time of the Fourth Buddhist Councils, Buddhism had splintered into different schools in different regions of India.
The Southern Theravada school had a Fourth Buddhist Council in the first century BCE in Sri Lanka at Alu Vihara (Aloka Lena) during the time of King Vattagamani-Abaya. The council was held in response to a year in which the harvests in Sri L…
Theravada Councils in Myanmar
Another Buddhist Council, this time presided by Theravada monks took place in Mandalay, Burma, in 1871 in the reign of King Mindon. In the Burmese tradition, it is commonly known as the "Fifth Council". The chief objective of this meeting was to recite all the teachings of the Buddha and examine them in minute detail to see if any of them had been altered, distorted or dropped.
Theravada Councils in the Thai tradition
The Thai Theravada tradition has a different way of counting the history of Buddhist councils and names many other councils besides the ones listed above. A common Thai historical source for the early councils is the Saṅgītiyavaṁsa (c. 1789) by Somdet Wannarat, abbot of Wat Pho.
The first three councils are the traditional councils in India (1. Rājagaha, 2. Vesālī, 3. Patāliputta).
The fourth council is seen by the Thai tradition of Buddhist history as having taken place under t…
See also
• Ecumenical council
• Index of Buddhism-related articles
• World Fellowship of Buddhists