The Fourth Buddhist Council was held under the patronage of which ruler?
- A.Ashoka
- B.Ajatashatru
- C.Kanishka
- D.Kalashoka
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is C, Kanishka. The Fourth Buddhist Council met at Kundalvana in Kashmir in the first century CE under the Kushana king Kanishka, with Vasumitra presiding and Ashvaghosha assisting him. Its commentaries were compiled in Sanskrit and the meeting marks the point at which the Mahayana and Hinayana branches finally parted.
Option A, Ashoka, patronised the Third Council at Pataliputra, presided over by Moggaliputta Tissa, which added the Abhidhamma Pitaka and sent missions abroad. Option B, Ajatashatru, patronised the First Council at Rajgriha just after the Buddha death, where Upali recited the Vinaya and Ananda the Sutta. Option D, Kalashoka, patronised the Second Council at Vaishali, which split the order into Sthaviravadins and Mahasanghikas. Learn the councils as a row of four: place, king, president and result.
Read the full article: Buddhism and Jainism: Teachings, Councils and Exam Facts
Practice Questions
View allGautama Buddha delivered his first sermon at which of the following places?
- A.Bodh Gaya
- B.Sarnath
- C.Kushinagar
- D.Lumbini
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After his enlightenment the Buddha walked to the deer park at Sarnath near Varanasi and taught the Four Noble Truths to the five ascetics who had earlier deserted him.
Read the full explanation →Who among the following was the twenty-third Tirthankara of Jainism?
- A.Rishabhadeva
- B.Parshvanatha
- C.Neminatha
- D.Mahavira
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He was the twenty-third Tirthankara, a prince of Varanasi and son of King Ashvasena, whose emblem is the serpent. He is placed about two hundred and fifty years before Mahavira and gave his followers four vows: non-violence, truth, non-stealing and non-possession.
Read the full explanation →Which vow did Mahavira add to the four vows already taught by Parshvanatha?
- A.Ahimsa, non-violence
- B.Satya, truthfulness
- C.Aparigraha, non-possession
- D.Brahmacharya, celibacy
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Parshvanatha had prescribed four restraints, and Mahavira added celibacy to them, so Jain monastic discipline rests on five great vows: ahimsa, satya, asteya, aparigraha and brahmacharya.
Read the full explanation →The Abhidhamma Pitaka was compiled at which Buddhist council?
- A.First council at Rajgriha
- B.Second council at Vaishali
- C.Third council at Pataliputra
- D.Fourth council in Kashmir
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Held in the reign of Ashoka under the presidency of Moggaliputta Tissa, it purged the order of dissenters, added the Abhidhamma Pitaka, the philosophical third basket, to the canon, and decided to send missionaries to Sri Lanka and other lands.
Read the full explanation →Mahavira attained kaivalya, or perfect knowledge, on the bank of which river?
- A.Niranjana
- B.Rijupalika
- C.Parushni
- D.Gandak
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After twelve years of severe austerity Mahavira attained kaivalya at the age of forty-two under a sal tree at Jrimbhikagrama, on the bank of the river Rijupalika, and from that moment was known as Jina and Kevalin.
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