96 



It was done so. All the members accepted it." So with the 2nd 

 and 3rd Parajika, which constituted the whole of the Vinaya -pitaka. 

 In the same manner Ananda was selected for examination on the 

 whole of the Sutras ; and Anuradha on the Abhidhamma ; Maha 

 Kassapa being the examiner throughout.* The Council, after 

 sitting seven months, and arriving at unanimous conclusions upon 

 the whole of the subjects brought before it, concluded by fixing 

 the Buddhistic era ; the commencement of which they dated from 

 the day of Buddha's death, b. c. 543. 



A second general Council was held at Wesalie, or Allahabad, 

 under the following circumstances. " In the 20th year of the 

 reign of Kalasoka, in the year 100, there happened a sort of schism 

 amongst the Rahans of Wesalie .... The venerable Rassa was then 

 living in the monastery of Mahawon in the district of Wesalie. 

 Chancing to travel through Vajji district he . . . was greatly 

 scandalized at all that he saw .... The venerable Rassa anxious 

 for the safety of the genuine practices, and zealous for the exal- 

 tation of religion, hastened to Kosambi, to warn the religious of 

 that and the neighbouring districts, against the evil practices of 

 the Vajji rahans. To those he could not meet in person he sent 

 letters and messengers^ to say to them 'Brethren, before the evil 

 doers succeed in their iniquitous efforts to subvert religion, and 

 render doubtful and uncertain the genuine regulations of the Viui, 

 ere they have time to set up false tenets, let us assemble, and with 



* The Mahawanso, which asserts the oral propagation of the Pitakas, describes 

 this transaction in these terms : — " The high-priest (Mahakassapo) reserved to 

 himself (the part) of interrogating on ' winaya,' and the ascetic thero Upali that of 

 discoursing thereon. The one seated in the high-priest's pulpit interrogated him 

 on 'winaya'; the other, seated in the preaching pulpit, expatiated thereon. 

 From the manner in which the 'winaya' was propounded by this master of that 

 branch of religion, all these the'ros, by repeating (the discourse) in chants, became 

 perfect masters in the knowledge of 'winaya.' " 



