Promotion and development of Buddhism : Gautam Buddha propagated Buddhist religion in a planned manner. He established Buddhist Sangh (union) and Buddhist monasteries to spread his views. This is the reason that during the time of Gautam Buddha and later due to Royal patronage the propagation of Buddhism was done not only in India but also in countries like China, Japan, Sri Lanka, Tibet, Burma, Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, Cambodia, Sumatra, etc.
Mauryan ruler Ashoka and Kushan ruler Kanishka also declared Buddhism as a state religion. Nalanda Vihar was the main center of Buddhism. For the development and prevalence of Buddhism, four Buddhist Councils (Sangiti) or General assembly were organized in different periods, which are as follows :
- First Buddhist Council: After Nirvana (death) of Gautam Buddha, during the reign of Ajatshatru, the first Buddhist council was organized in the Saptaparni cave at Rajgrah. The presidentship of this Buddhist council was done by Mahakashyap. In this Buddhist Cawia, the teachings of Mahatma Buddha were complied, which were divided into Suttapitak and Vinaypitak.
- Second Buddhist Council : This Buddhist council was organized during Kalashoka’s period in Vaishali in 383 BC after one hundred of years of Mahatma Buddha’s Nirvana. The aim of this meeting was to eliminate the differences among the Buddhist monks. After this assembly, the Buddhist monks association was divided into two sects Therawadi and Sarvastivadi.
- Third Buddhist Council : The third general assembly of Buddhism was organized in Patliputra in the reign of Maurya ruler Ashoka in 251 BC. The presidentship of this assembly was assumed by Mogliputta Tisya. He compiled a book titled Kathavathu,which is part of Abhidhampitak.
- Fourth Buddhist Council : This Buddhist Mahasabha (General assembly) was organized in Kundalvan of Srinagar under the rule of Kanishka. It was headed by Vasumitra. In this General Assembly the difficult parts of Buddhist texts were discussed. In this general assembly, the Buddhist religion was divided into two clear and independent sects. Hinyaan and Mahayaan.
