[Solved] Patron of the Fourth Buddhist Council: King Kanishka

The Fourth Buddhist Council was held in Kashmir during the reign of which king?

[UPSC CSE Prelims 2001, Paper I]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

Concept

Identifying the royal patrons of the four major Buddhist councils is a core requirement for ancient Indian history.

Authentic Source Evidence

Kanishka (Kushan king) organized the council around 72 CE at Kundalvana in Kashmir to resolve conflicts in Buddhist doctrine.

Analytical Breakdown

Ajatshatru (Haryanka): 1st Council (Rajgir).

Kalasoka (Shishunaga): 2nd Council (Vaishali).

Ashoka (Maurya): 3rd Council (Pataliputra).

Kanishka (Kushan): 4th Council (Kashmir).

Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

"How did Kanishka's patronage differ from Ashoka's?"

Ashoka promoted Dhamma as a moral code across his empire, while Kanishka's patronage led to the development of Buddhist art (Gandhara/Mathura) and the rise of Mahayana.

Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

"The choice of Kashmir as the venue highlights the region's historical role as a major hub for Buddhist scholarship and its transition to Central Asia."

Topic Clusters (click to see related topic questions)

Analysing authentic UPSC CSE Prelims , Paper Iprevious year questions is non-negotiable for serious aspirants. Thoroughly decoding past exam trends related to Buddhist Councils and Patrons helps you understand the examiner's mindset. Mastering specific entities like Kanishka Buddhism and Fourth Buddhist Council location builds the analytical intuition needed to clear the exam. Practice Previous Year Questions here →