Maarg Manthan · Topic 8.4

Buddhist Councils (First to Fourth)

Art & Culture › Religion, Philosophy, Buddhism & Jainism · Topic 8.4

The four Buddhist Councils were assemblies of monks held to fix the Buddha's teachings and settle disputes. The First, at Rajagriha around 483 BCE under Ajatashatru and Mahakassapa, compiled the Vinaya and Sutta. The Second, at Vaishali around 383 BCE under Kalashoka and Sabakami, saw the split into Sthaviravadins and Mahasanghikas. The Third, at Pataliputra around 250 BCE under Ashoka and Moggaliputta Tissa, compiled the Abhidhamma Pitaka. The Fourth, in Kashmir under Kanishka and Vasumitra, used Sanskrit and led to the Hinayana and Mahayana division. Dates are approximate.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Art & Culture · Religion, Philosophy, Buddhism & Jainism

At a Glance

First Rajagriha, Ajatashatru, Mahakassapa
Second Vaishali, Kalashoka, Sabakami
Third Pataliputra, Ashoka, Moggaliputta Tissa
Fourth Kashmir, Kanishka, Vasumitra
Result Canon fixed, schools split
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Art and Culture: Religion, Philosophy, Buddhism & Jainism

Where Does It Fit?

This is the fourth topic of the macro on religion and philosophy. It follows the topic on Buddhism and shows how the canon was shaped and how the schools began to divide. Previous topic: tripitaka/" class="maargx-auto-link" data-preview="At a Glance Founder Siddhartha Gautama, Sakya clan Core teaching Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path Canon Tripitaka in Pali Three schools Theravada,…">Buddhism (Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path, Tripitaka). Next topic: Mahavira Core teaching Ahimsa, five Mahavratas, Triratna Philosophy Anekantavada, Syadvada Canon Agamas in Ardhamagadhi…">Jainism (Tirthankaras, Anekantavada, Agamas).

What Are the Four Buddhist Councils?

Council	Place and date	Ruler	President	Outcome
First	Rajagriha, Sattapanni cave, about 483 BCE, soon after the death of the Buddha	Ajatashatru of the Haryanka dynasty	Mahakassapa (Mahakashyapa)	Ananda recited the Sutta and Upali the Vinaya, which formed the Sutta Pitaka and Vinaya Pitaka
Second	Vaishali, about 383 BCE, a century after the first	Kalashoka of the Shishunaga dynasty	Sabakami (Sabbakami)	Dispute over ten points of monastic discipline. The order split into the Sthaviravadins (elders) and the Mahasanghikas
Third	Pataliputra, about 250 BCE	Ashoka of the Mauryan dynasty	Moggaliputta Tissa	Abhidhamma Pitaka completed and the Kathavatthu compiled. Missions sent abroad, including Mahendra and Sanghamitra to Sri Lanka
Fourth	Kundalavana in Kashmir (some accounts say Jalandhar), about the first or second century CE	Kanishka of the Kushana dynasty	Vasumitra, with Asvaghosha as deputy	Texts put in Sanskrit; Mahavibhasha commentary written. The Buddhist order divided into Hinayana and Mahayana

What Did Each Council Change?

First Council: fixed the memory of the Buddha’s words in Pali, in the cave near Rajagriha, in the Magadha capital of that time
Second Council: settled the Vaishali monks’ relaxations on money, food and rules and caused the first major schism
Third Council: ended disputes under Ashoka, removed heretical monks and began a policy of missions
Fourth Council: shifted the language of texts toward Sanskrit and gave a boost to the Mahayana
Languages: Pali for the first three councils, Sanskrit for the fourth
Link with the Tripitaka: the three baskets were completed across the first three councils
Outcome of Theravada tradition: the Sri Lankan Theravada tradition counts a council at Aluvihara in Sri Lanka, about the first century BCE, where the canon was first written down under King Vattagamani
Evidence: accounts of the councils come from Pali chronicles such as Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa, so dates are approximate

What Else Should You Remember?

Alternate spellings: Mahakassapa is also written Mahakashyapa; Sabakami as Sabbakami; Moggaliputta Tissa as Moggaliputra Tishya; Kundalavana as Kuntalvan
Hinayana name: Hinayana, meaning lesser vehicle, is a term used by Mahayana followers, and Theravada is the preferred name today
Mahasanghika: the school of the great assembly, which is regarded as a root of later Mahayana ideas
Sthaviravada: the school of the elders from which the Theravada tradition came
Ashoka and missions: after the third council, missions went to Sri Lanka, Suvarnabhumi, Gandhara and the Himalayan region
Kanishka and Gandhara: Kanishka’s reign saw the Gandhara school of art with the first images of the Buddha, as in Post-Mauryan Period Sculpture (Gandhara, Mathura, Amaravati Schools)
Link with councils and patrons: three of the four councils were held under kings, showing royal support to the order
Patron dynasties: Haryanka, Shishunaga, Mauryan and Kushana in order
Memory aid for places: Rajagriha, Vaishali, Pataliputra and Kashmir in order
Buddhist doctrine: the basic doctrine that the councils tried to preserve is covered in Buddhism (Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path, Tripitaka)
Ashokan inscriptions: Ashoka’s Bairat edict names Buddhist texts that monks should study, showing a stable canon by his time
Importance of Vaishali: Vaishali was the seat of the Licchavi republic and is also tied with the Buddha’s last journey and with Jain tradition

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Matching tables: council with place, ruler and president
Order: Haryanka, Shishunaga, Mauryan and Kushana patrons in order
Outcome: schism at the second, Abhidhamma at the third, Sanskrit at the fourth
Persons: Mahakassapa, Sabakami, Moggaliputta Tissa, Vasumitra and Asvaghosha
Common errors: swapping Ashoka’s and Kanishka’s councils, or calling Hinayana the school of the fourth council alone

As an analytical point, the councils show how a movement without a central authority kept unity through collective chanting and then divided through doctrinal and disciplinary disputes. They also show the importance of state patronage in the spread of ideas.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Tables Place, king, president
Chronology Dynasty order
Impact Schism and Abhidhamma

What Came Next?

The next topic begins Jainism, a contemporary reform religion of Buddhism. Next topic: Jainism (Tirthankaras, Anekantavada, Agamas).

Key People and Terms

Sangiti Council or joint chanting
Kathavatthu Text of Moggaliputta Tissa
Mahavibhasha Commentary of the fourth council
Sthaviravada School of elders
Mahasanghika School of the great assembly
Vinaya Monastic rules

Study this topic together with these linked topics from other subjects.

Buddhist Councils, Decline of Buddhism and its Significance (Ancient History)

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

I: Rajagriha, Ajatashatru, Mahakassapa.
II: Vaishali, Kalashoka, Sabakami.
III: Pataliputra, Ashoka, Moggaliputta Tissa.
IV: Kashmir, Kanishka, Vasumitra.
Fourth council language: Sanskrit.

Do Not Confuse With

Second and Third councils Vaishali schism versus Pataliputra Abhidhamma
Hinayana and Theravada A Mahayana label versus the self-name of the school
Vasumitra and Asvaghosha President versus deputy of the fourth council

Memory Hook

Raja, Vaisha, Pata, Kashmir; Kassapa, Sabakami, Tissa, Vasumitra.

Mains Angle

Questions ask for the role of the councils in shaping Buddhism. These points give a balanced frame.

Canon Fixed teaching
Schism Disputes and schools
Patronage Role of kings

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Discuss the role of the Buddhist Councils in shaping the canon and schools of Buddhism.”

How to Answer

Councils Four, in order.
Canon Tripitaka formed.
Division Schools emerged.
Role State patronage.

GS Relevance

Prelims: place, patron, president and outcome of each Buddhist Council. GS Paper 1: Indian culture, Buddhism.

Frequently Asked Questions

What were the four Buddhist Councils?

The four Buddhist Councils were assemblies of monks. The First was at Rajagriha, the Second at Vaishali, the Third at Pataliputra under Ashoka and the Fourth in Kashmir under Kanishka. They compiled the Tripitaka, settled disputes of monastic rules and led to the division of the order into schools.

Who presided over the Third Buddhist Council?

Moggaliputta Tissa presided over the Third Buddhist Council held at Pataliputra around 250 BCE under the Mauryan emperor Ashoka. The Abhidhamma Pitaka was completed there, the Kathavatthu was compiled, and missions were later sent to Sri Lanka and other regions.

Why did the Second Buddhist Council lead to a split?

The Second Council at Vaishali, held under Kalashoka around 383 BCE, debated ten points of monastic discipline that the Vaishali monks had relaxed. The elders rejected them, and the order divided into the Sthaviravadins and the Mahasanghikas, the first major schism of Buddhism.

What is the difference between the First and the Fourth Buddhist Council?

The First Council at Rajagriha, around 483 BCE, fixed the Vinaya and the Sutta in Pali under Mahakassapa. The Fourth, in Kashmir under Kanishka and Vasumitra, used Sanskrit, produced the Mahavibhasha and marked the open split between Hinayana and Mahayana.

Why are the Buddhist Councils important for UPSC?

The councils are a frequent match-the-following topic in Prelims, with place, ruler and president of each. They also help in Mains answers on the growth of Buddhism, the Tripitaka, royal patronage under Ashoka and Kanishka, and the rise of Mahayana.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 The Third Buddhist Council was held at Pataliputra under Ashoka.

True

Moggaliputta Tissa presided.

2 Kanishka convened the Second Buddhist Council at Vaishali.

False

That was Kalashoka; Kanishka held the Fourth.

3 The First Buddhist Council was presided over by Mahakassapa.