U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1999

History of Buddhism

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

Which of the following sources mention the occurrence of the third Buddhist Council during the reign of Ashoka: 1. Inscriptions of Ashoka 2. Dipavamsa 3. Mahavamsa 4. Divyavadana Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Solution & Analysis

Answer: B

Concept The Buddhist Councils were major milestones in defining Buddhist doctrine, with the third council marking the global missionary phase of the faith.

Explanation The Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa (the Sri Lankan Pali chronicles) are the primary sources that provide a detailed account of the third council held at Pataliputra.

Logical Breakup

Logic 1: Interestingly, Ashoka's own inscriptions (Option 1) do not explicitly mention the council, though they discuss Dharma and missionary work.

Logic 2: Both Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa record that the council was presided over by Moggaliputta Tissa around 250 BCE.

Logic 3: The Divyavadana focuses on legends of Ashoka but is not the primary record for the council details.

Active Recall

Question

What was the main purpose of the Third Buddhist Council?

Answer

To purify the Sangha from heretical sects and to compile the definitive version of the Buddhist canon (Abhidhamma Pitaka).

Core Insight

The Third Council transformed Buddhism from a regional Indian sect into a state-sponsored international mission.

Which of the following sources mention the occurrence of the third Buddhist Council during the reign of Ashoka: 1. Inscriptions of Ashoka 2. Dipavamsa 3. Mahavamsa 4. Divyavadana Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Solution & Analysis

Active Recall

Core Insight

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