Question

Four Buddhist Councils were held in the following places. Arrange them in chronological order by using the codes given below.

I. Vaishali

II. Rajgriha

III. Kundalavana

IV. Pataliputra

1. I, III, IV, II
2. II, I, IV, III
3. II, IV, III, I
4. III, I, IV, II

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 2 : II, I, IV, III

The correct answer is II, I, IV, III.

Buddhist Council	Time	Place	Ruler	President
First	483 BCE	Rajgriha	Ajatashatru	Mahakassappa
Second	383 BCE	Vaisali	Kalasoka	Sabbakami
Third	250 BCE	Patliputra	Ashoka	Mogaliputta Tissa
Fourth	1st Century CE	Kundalavana	Kanishka	Vasumitra

• First Buddhist Council
  • Conducted under the patronage of King Ajatasatru of the Haryanka dynasty.
  • The council was established in order to arrive at a consensus on how the teachings of the Buddha could be spread further.
  • It was held in 483 BC just after Buddha’s demise.
  • The main objective was to preserve the Buddha’s teachings.
  • At this council, Ananda composed the Suttapitaka (Buddha’s Teachings) and Mahakassapa composed the Vinaypitaka (monastic code).
• Second Buddhist Council
  • Conducted under the patronage of King Kalasoka of the Sisunaga dynasty.
  • 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.
• Third Buddhist Council
  • Conducted under the patronage of Emperor Ashoka of the Maurya dynasty.
  • It was held in 250 BC at Pataliputra.
  • The council was presided over by Mogaliputta Tissa.
  • The main objective was to purify Buddhism from opportunistic factions and corruption in the Sangha.
  • Buddhism preached by Emperor Ashoka was Hinayana.
• Fourth Buddhist Council
  • Conducted under the patronage of King Kanishka of the Kushan dynasty.
  • It was held in the 1st century AD at Kundalvana in Kashmir.
  • Vasumitra and Ashvaghosha presided over this council
  • Here, Abhidhamma texts were translated from Prakrit to Sanskrit.
  • This council resulted in the division of Buddhism into two sects namely, Mahayana (the Greater Vehicle) and Hinayana (the Lesser Vehicle).
  • Mahayana sect believed in idol worship, rituals and Boddhisattvas. They regarded the Buddha as God.
  • Hinayana continued the original teachings and practices of the Buddha.