Question

Under whose kingship, fourth Buddhist Council was held?
1. Ashoka
2. Kalasoka
3. Kanishka
4. Ajatshatru

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 3 : Kanishka

The correct answer is Kanishka.

• Since the Parinirvana (death) of Buddha, all Buddhist communities sequentially convoked to settle theological matters and to amend the content of various Buddhist sutras and hence is called Buddhist Council. There are 6 such councils held until 1954.
  • First Buddhist Council was held at Girivraja also known as Rajgriha or Rajgir under the chairmanship of Mahakassap and kingship of Ajatshatru in the year 483 B.C. for adopting and preserving all Buddha’s sayings and disciplines known as Sutta and Vinaya respectively.
  • The second Buddhist Council was held at Vaishali under the chairmanship of Sabbakami and kingship of Kalasoka in year 383 B.C. No outcome was ascertained in this council due to the controversial act of accepting donations, done by monks.
  • The third Buddhist Council was held at Patliputra under the chairmanship of Moggaliputta Tissa and kingship of Ashoka in year 251 B.C. to classify established Pitakas.
  • Fourth Buddhist Council is segregated into two separate councils held at Srilanka (77 BCE) and Kashmir (127 CE) under Vattagamani Abhaya and Kanishka respectively resulting in the division of Buddhism into Hinayana (Theravada Buddhism) and Mahayana.
  • The fifth and sixth Buddhist council was held by Hinayana Buddhism at Burma in 1871 and 1954 respectively.

No. of Buddhist Councils	Place	Leadership	Year
First Buddhist Council	Girivraja	King Ajatshatru	483 B.C.
Second Buddhist Council	Vaishali	King Kalasoka	383 B.C.
Third Buddhist Council	Patliputra	King Ashoka	251 B.C.
Fourth Buddhist Council (1)	Srilanka	King Vattagami Abhaya	77 A.D.
Fourth Buddhist Council (2)	Kashmir	King Kanishka	127 A.D.
Fifth Buddhist Council	Mandalay (Burma)	King Mindon	1871 A.D.
Sixth Buddhist Council	Kaba Aye (Burma)	Prime Minister of Burma Mr U Nu	1954 A.D.