Where and when was the Second Buddhist Council held ?

Question

Accepted Answer

The Second Buddhist Council was held in Vaishali in 383 BCE, which is why Option 3 is the correct answer. Here is a detailed explanation supporting this:

1. **Justification for Option 3: Vaishali in 383 BCE**
   - The Second Buddhist Council was convened approximately 100 years after the Buddha's death, which is traditionally dated to around 483 BCE. This places the council around 383 BCE.
   - The council was held in Vaishali, an ancient city in present-day Bihar, India. It was organized to address disputes regarding monastic discipline and practices that had arisen among the Buddhist monastic community.
   - The primary issue discussed was the interpretation of the Vinaya, the monastic code of conduct. The council aimed to resolve disagreements and maintain the purity of the monastic rules.

2. **Explanation for why other options are incorrect:**

- **Option 1: Pataliputra in 250 BCE**
     - This date and location correspond to the Third Buddhist Council, not the Second. The Third Council was held under the patronage of Emperor Ashoka in Pataliputra (modern-day Patna, India) to purify the Buddhist movement of corruption and heretical views.
   
   - **Option 2: Sri Lanka in 1st Century BCE**
     - This option is incorrect because the Second Buddhist Council was not held in Sri Lanka. The reference to Sri Lanka in the 1st Century BCE is more closely associated with the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka and the subsequent establishment of the Theravada tradition there.
   
   - **Option 4: Mandalay in 1871 CE**
     - This option is incorrect as it refers to the Fifth Buddhist Council, which took place in Mandalay, Burma (now Myanmar) in 1871 CE. This council was held to recite and preserve the Pali Canon.

In conclusion, the Second Buddhist Council was indeed held in Vaishali in 383 BCE, making Option 3 the correct answer. The other options refer to different councils or events in Buddhist history and are therefore incorrect in this context.