The Third Council
Location: The Third Council occurred under the patronage of King Ashoka in the capital of the Mauryan Empire known as Pataliputra, in modern day Patna. More information can be found about traveling to this site in our section on Kusumapara, the name of the city during Guru Padmasambhava's journey through India. The site is only around 55 km from where the Second Council occurred in Vaishali, both easily visited in the same day. - Map Location
Brief Account: Roughly 175 years after the Second Council, during the reign of King Ashoka, the Third Council took place to help unify the sangha after a series of schisms. Moggaliputta-Tissa, a well respected monk, gathered 1,000 other monks from all of India to recite the sutras and Vinaya texts. In the wake of King Ashoka's unprecedented royal patronage of the Dharma, many people had joined the noble assembly of monks as a means of getting their hands on some of the King's wealth, and were far from sincere monastics. The Third council was an attempt to eradicate these false monks and ensure purity among the sangha. King Ashoka himself was said to be present at the Third Council, questioning monks to eliminate any heretics. This council was of particular importance in shaping the Theravada tradition. During the council Moggaliputta-Tissa compiled the Kathavatthu, explaining the points of controversy covered at that time. This text became part of the Theravada Abhidhamma Pitika.