Overview
Test Series
Buddhist Councils refer to various councils that were held in ancient India by the followers of Buddhism. These councils were organized to discuss and resolve issues related to the interpretation and preservation of Buddhist teachings and to promote unity among the Buddhist community. There have been four Buddhist councils, the first of which was presided over by King Ajatashatru of the Haryanka Dynasty during the Magadha Empire in 483 BC. The three other Buddhist councils took place consecutively around 383 BCE, 250 BCE, and 72 AD.
Buddhist Councils is one of the most important topics for the UPSC IAS exam. It covers a significant part of the Ancient History subject in the General Studies Paper-1 syllabus and UPSC Prelims Syllabus General Studies Paper-1.
This article details all six Buddhist councils and their important texts for the UPSC exam.
You can also register for the Testbook’s flagship optional history coaching for UPSC and kick-start your UPSC IAS preparation journey today.
The Buddhist Council refers to a series of historic Buddhist monks and scholars meetings in ancient India. These councils were called to discuss and settle disputes related to interpreting and implementing Buddhist teachings and preserving and propagating Buddhist scriptures. One key change during the first Buddhist council was the development of two of the oldest Buddhist traditions, the Mahayana and Theravada Buddhist schools. The history of the early Buddha schools has undergone various alterations, including the translation of numerous ancient Buddha sutras and teachings.
Check the Ancient History NCERT Notes Here!
Get a quick overview of the list of Buddhist Councils in the table below:
List of Buddhist Councils |
||
Council |
Place |
Year |
1st Buddhist Council |
Rajagriha in Magadha (modern Rajgir, Bihar state, India) |
400 BC |
2nd Buddhist Council |
Vaishali, India |
383 BC |
3rd Buddhist Council |
Pataliputra, India |
250 BC |
4th Buddhist Council |
Tambapanni, in Sri Lanka |
72 AD |
5th Buddhist Council |
Mandalay, Burma (Myanmar) |
1871 |
6th Buddhist Council |
Rangoon, Burma (Myanmar) |
1954 |
Also, check out the article on Cave Architecture In Ancient India with this link!
Study in detail the NCERT Notes of Gupta Empire for UPSC preparation!
Know more about the difference between Jainism and Buddhism!
The Tripitakas and Tipitaka, both written in the Pali language, are considered the most important sources of Buddhism.
Know more about Mahayana Buddhism!
Buddhism originated in India in the 6th century BCE. It spread rapidly throughout Asia over the next few centuries. The spread of Buddhism was facilitated by many factors, including:
Know more about Buddhist Literature!
The decline of Buddhism in India began in the 12th century CE when the region was invaded by Muslim armies. Many Buddhist monasteries and temples were destroyed. Many monks were killed or forced to flee. The decline of Buddhism continued in the following centuries. By the 19th century, Buddhism had almost disappeared from India.
There are a number of factors that contributed to the decline of Buddhism in India. These include:
Testbook is a leading product in terms of quality, such as live testing, mockeries, content pages, GK, current affairs videos, and more. Download the Testbook App to Explore More UPSC Ancient History Subjects!
UPSC Exam-Hacker, Author, Super Mentor, MA
Sign Up Now &