๐ Topic 04 of 6 ยท Chapter 04 ยท Mahajanapadas, Jainism & Buddhism
Buddhist Councils & Spread of Buddhism
Four Buddhist councils, Ashoka’s role, spread to Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, China.
๐๏ธ Four Buddhist Councils
| Council | Date | Place | Patron | President | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First | 483 BCE (immediately after Buddha’s death) | Rajagriha (Sattapanni Cave) | Ajatashatru | Mahakassapa | Compiled Vinaya Pitaka (Upali) and Sutta Pitaka (Ananda) |
| Second | 383 BCE | Vaishali | Kalashoka | Sabakami | Dispute over 10 points of Vinaya; split into Sthaviravada and Mahasanghika |
| Third | 250 BCE | Pataliputra | Ashoka | Moggaliputta Tissa | Compiled Abhidhamma Pitaka; expelled heretics; sent missionaries abroad |
| Fourth | 1st century CE | Kashmir (Kundalvana) | Kanishka (Kushana) | Vasumitra (Ashvaghosha) | Split into Hinayana and Mahayana; Mahayana texts compiled in Sanskrit |
โญ Key Facts:
โข First Council: Vinaya Pitaka compiled by Upali; Sutta Pitaka by Ananda
โข Second Council: First major split in Buddhism โ Sthaviravada vs Mahasanghika
โข Third Council: Ashoka’s council; Abhidhamma Pitaka compiled; missionaries sent
โข Fourth Council: Kanishka’s council; Hinayana vs Mahayana split; Sanskrit used
โข First Council: Vinaya Pitaka compiled by Upali; Sutta Pitaka by Ananda
โข Second Council: First major split in Buddhism โ Sthaviravada vs Mahasanghika
โข Third Council: Ashoka’s council; Abhidhamma Pitaka compiled; missionaries sent
โข Fourth Council: Kanishka’s council; Hinayana vs Mahayana split; Sanskrit used
๐ Spread of Buddhism
Ashoka’s Role in Spreading Buddhism:
- After Kalinga War (261 BCE), Ashoka converted to Buddhism
- Sent Dhamma missionaries to various countries
- Sent his son Mahinda and daughter Sanghamitra to Sri Lanka
- Sent missionaries to Syria, Egypt, Macedonia, Cyrene, Epirus (Greek kingdoms)
- Built stupas, viharas, and pillars across India
Spread of Buddhism to Different Regions:
| Region | Form | Key Route/Person |
|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | Theravada (Hinayana) | Mahinda and Sanghamitra (Ashoka’s children) |
| Southeast Asia (Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia) | Theravada | Trade routes; Ashoka’s missionaries |
| China, Japan, Korea | Mahayana | Silk Road; Kushan empire; Chinese pilgrims |
| Tibet | Vajrayana (Tantric) | Padmasambhava (8th century CE) |
| Central Asia | Mahayana | Kushana empire; Kanishka’s patronage |
๐ Decline of Buddhism in India
- Revival of Brahminism โ Gupta period; Brahmanical Hinduism absorbed Buddhist ideas
- Corruption in Sangha โ monks became wealthy; lost popular support
- Bhakti movement โ offered simpler path to salvation
- Muslim invasions โ destruction of Nalanda (1193 CE by Bakhtiyar Khilji) โ major blow
- Adi Shankaracharya โ philosophical debates defeated Buddhist scholars
๐ Exam Tip:
โข First Council = Rajagriha = Ajatashatru = Mahakassapa
โข Third Council = Pataliputra = Ashoka = Moggaliputta Tissa
โข Fourth Council = Kashmir = Kanishka = Vasumitra
โข Mahinda and Sanghamitra = Ashoka’s children = took Buddhism to Sri Lanka
โข Nalanda destroyed = 1193 CE = Bakhtiyar Khilji
โข First Council = Rajagriha = Ajatashatru = Mahakassapa
โข Third Council = Pataliputra = Ashoka = Moggaliputta Tissa
โข Fourth Council = Kashmir = Kanishka = Vasumitra
โข Mahinda and Sanghamitra = Ashoka’s children = took Buddhism to Sri Lanka
โข Nalanda destroyed = 1193 CE = Bakhtiyar Khilji