The First and Second Councils

Three months after the Mahāparinibbāna of the Buddha, Ven. Elder Mahakassapa along with 500 arahant bhikkhus conducted the first Council at Rajgiri. All the monks who participated in this council were arahants. The presence of Ven. Ananda in the council was absolutely essential. Since he had served as a personal attendant of Buddha for several years, he had heard all his discourses and memorized them. But Ven. Ananda was only a sotāpanna and hence could not participate in the council. However, he became an Arahant by working ardently throughout the night. Thus he became the 500th bhikkhu to participate in the council that commenced the next morning. By the time of the second council, the Bhikkhusangha had already split into two groups. A large group of bhikkhus rejected certain rules laid down by Buddha and held a separate council of their own. However, those bhikkhus who maintained the pure tradition did not make any change (amendment) in the rules and held the second council under the aegis of King Kalasoka. 700 bhikkhus participated in this council. This council took place one hundred years after the Mahāparinibbāṇa of the Buddha.