Who presided over the Third Buddhist Council held at Pataliputra ?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 2:

The Third Buddhist Council was one of the most critical events in the history of Buddhism, convened around 250 BCE at Pataliputra (modern-day Patna) under the patronage of the great Mauryan Emperor Ashoka. The Council was called primarily to purify the Buddhist Sangha of schismatic elements and to reconcile various doctrinal disputes that had arisen. The proceedings were presided over by the venerable monk Moggaliputta-Tissa. Under his guidance, the Pāli Canon was formalized, and the third Pitaka, the *Abhidhamma Pitaka*, was finalized. Crucially, it was after this Council that Emperor Ashoka dispatched Buddhist missions (Dharmadutas) to spread the faith across India and to foreign lands, including Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia, ensuring the global expansion of Buddhism.

The incorrect option is 1: Sabakami

Sabakami (or Sarvakama) presided over the Second Buddhist Council, which was held about a century after the Buddha's death at Vaishali. This council primarily addressed disputes concerning the relaxation of monastic rules among the Vajjian monks.

The incorrect option is 3: Mahakassapa

Mahakassapa (or Mahakasyapa) was a leading disciple of the Buddha and presided over the First Buddhist Council, held shortly after the Buddha's *Mahaparinirvana* at Rajagriha. The primary objective of this council was to compile the Buddha’s teachings, resulting in the codification of the *Vinaya Pitaka* and the *Sutta Pitaka*.

The incorrect option is 4: Vasumitra

Vasumitra is traditionally credited as the president of the Fourth Buddhist Council, which was held in Kashmir under the patronage of the Kushan Emperor Kanishka (c. 1st or 2nd century CE). This council is famously associated with the schism of Buddhism into the Hinayana and Mahayana schools and the composition of the extensive commentaries known as the *Mahavibhasha*.