Ancient Indian Literature, their Period and Historical importance . Part -7, BUDDHIST

1. Buddhist Grantha – 

 In reverse to Rigvedic people Buddha pressed for ‘NIRVANA’ or “freedom from Birth and Rebirth” and cessation or stopping of suffering. Buddha’s preaching’s or teachings are in ‘Bodh Grantha’. Buddha taught 4 noble truths.

They are -

(a). – There is suffering in the world.

(b). - This suffering has a cause.

(c). – The cause is desire, and

(d). – It is possible to put an end to suffering, if desire is removed.

To come out of these sufferings he said, one should know the ‘Right Way’ for which Buddha prescribed the 8 fold path. These are -  

(A). – Right View,

(B). – Right Resolution,

(C)  - Right Words,

(D)  - Right Action,

(E). – Right Living,

(F). – Right Effort,

(G). – Right Thinking, and

(H). – Right Concentration.

Buddha stressed upon the importance of “Middle Path” and said that one should avoid the 2 extremes of strict abstinence and self denial for spiritual discipline and too much indulgence in worldly pleasures. He preached for Ahimnsa.

After Buddha’s death or ‘Mahaparinirvana’ (Great freedom from Birth and Rebirth) 6 ‘Bodh Sangiti’ took place to solve Bodh dharma’s problem, which appeared time to time.

प्रथम बौद्ध संगीति (थेरवाद के अनुसार ५४३ – ५४२ ( ईसापूर्व) -- राजगृह में

द्वित्तीय बौद्ध संगीति (४थी शताब्दी ईसा पूर्व) --

तृतीय बौद्ध संगीति (२५० ईसा पूर्व) --

चतुर्थ बौद्ध संगीति ( दो स्थानो पर हुई थी।)

पंचम बौद्ध संगीति (थेरवाद बौद्ध संगीति (१८७१))

षष्ट बौद्ध संगीति (थेरवाद बौद्ध संगीति (१९५४)) -- यांगून ( रंगून) के 'कबा आये' में

In English - 

First (1) ‘Bodh Sangiti’ happened in BC 543 – 542 in Rajagriha, (Bihar) under the leadership of “Mahakassap”. In it 500 Bodh Monks participated. 

After 100 years of the death of Buddha, Second (2) ‘Bodh Sangiti’ took place in ‘Vaishali’ (Bihar) in 4^th century BC.

Third (3) ‘Bodh Sangiti’ took place in ‘Patliputra’ in BC 250 under the leadership of ‘MogliPutta Tisya’. Emperor Ashoka took great interest in it. ‘Deepvansa’, ‘Mahavansa’ and ‘Samant Pasadika’ describes this ‘Sangiti’.

According to Huansang Fourth (4) ‘Bodh Sangiti’ took place in ‘Kashmir’ during the period of Emperor ’Kanishka’ of ‘Kusana dynesty’. Kanishka’s period is 1^st century AD (First AD). 

‘Deepvansa’, ‘Mahavansa’ are silent on this, rest of the “Bodh ‘Grantha’ book” conforms this. 

Fifth (5) ‘Bodh Sangiti’ took place in 1871 AD, ‘Thervad Bodh Sangiti’.

Sixth (6) ‘Bodh Sangiti’ took place in 1954 AD out of India in ‘Kaba Aye’ in another country Rangoon or ‘Yangon’ (Burma).

Buddha’s teachings or Preaches is in Sanskrit and Pali language, in books; which were compiled by his followers.

These books are –

“Tripitaka” - (Tri – Three and Pitaka means Basket.) in ‘Pali’ is the most important book of Bodh Dharma.  

Wheeler and Rid Devidz have said that Pitaka means Basket, because those days manuscript in India was put into a basket with care.

In Tripitaka there are 3 books – Vinaya Pitaka, Sutta Pitaka, and Abhidhamma Pitaka.  

1. Vinaya Pitaka – It is divided in these books and their sub parts– 

(a). Sutta Vibhanga – It has 2 parts – Maha Vibhang and Bhukshni Vibhang., 

(b). Khandhakao - It has 2 parts – Mahavagga and ChullaVagga.

(C). Parivar or Parivar Path.

  ‘Rules – Regulations’ of Bodh Dharma are compiled in ‘Vinayapitaka’, which were described by ‘Buddha’ himself’. Ethics – Thoughts (Achar – Vichar), Rule of Right living (Yama – Niyama), rules to lead daily life are part of ‘Vinaya Pitaka’. 

(a). Sutta Vibhanga is the sub part of ‘Vinaya Pitaka’. The meaning of Sutta Vibhanga is ‘Sutra Par Tika’ (Commentary or explanation on Sutra). This is the commentary on ‘Patti Mokha’. 

Possibly ‘Patti Mokha’ is the variation of ‘Pratimoksha’ (against Moksha) means bondage. So it seems the subject of ‘Sutta Vibhanga’ is how to free from bondage or get rid of bondage. In this book there are laws for Buddhists, which say what are ‘Sins or work of Sin’ and how one can do atone and get rid of sin.  

This law book helped to give bondage to Buddhist religion as an organisation. It’s a rule in Bodh Dharma that common Buddhist has to regularly read this book ‘Sutta Vibhanga’ twice (2) in a month.  

In Maha Vibhanga there is ‘Patti Mokha’ for Buddhist Monks. There is one chapter each on 8 Sins for Buddhist Monks. Later on a ‘Patti Mokha’ is needed for Buddhist Nuns. Bhukkhini Vibhanga is the commentary on ‘Bikkuhini Patti Mokha’.

(b). Khandhakao – In Khandhakao there is law of Probation in detail for the Buddhist organisational life.  Compare to ‘Sutta Vibhanga’ ‘Khandhakao’ presents a more detailed, conditional, developed, vivid picture of Buddhist society and their living. 

  In ‘Mahavagga’ there are 8 chapters; in ‘ChullaVagga’ there are 12 chapters. In these books there are laws related to Buddhist daily life and Organisation. Ethics – Thoughts, Rule of Right Living, and Law of Prohibition is the part of chapters of ‘Mahavagga’ and ‘Chulavagga’. 

The difference between in these books is that important and main subjects, very important topics are taken in ‘Mahavagga’ and less important, common and general subjects are compiled in ‘Chulavagga’.  

Chulavagga’s 10th chapter is related with Buddhist Bhukhanni’s (Nuns). 11^th and 12^th chapter mentions Buddhist Sanagati’s.

(C). Parivar or Parivar Path – This book is in form of Question – Answer. This book is written later in compare to other books of ‘Vinaya Pitaka’. There are 19 sub parts of ‘Parivar or Parivar Path’.