CHAPTER IV. FIRST SYNOD. 1. The whole Bauddha community, or all who had taken the vows of asceticism, were known by the general name of Sangha, or the "congregation." The same term, with the addition of the local name, was used to distinguish any one of the numerous Buddhist fraternities; as Magadhe-Sangham, the fraternity of Magadha; Santi Sangham, the fraternity of Santi, or Sánchi.* It was also employed to denote the general assembliest of monks, which were held at stated periods; as well as the Grand Assemblies, which took place only on particular occasions. Three of these extraordinary assemblies, called respectively the First, Second, and Third Synods, were held at different periods, for the See the Bhabra inscription, Jour. As. Soc. Bengal, for the first; the other is used in the Sánchi pillar inscription, published in this volume. † Μεγαλην συνοδον is the expression of Megasthenes for the annual assembly held at Palibothra. ↑ Prathamé, Dwitaye, and Tritaye Sangham, or Sangiti. suppression of heresy, and the solemn affirmation of orthodoxy. 2. The first of these assemblies was convoked after the death of Sákya, in the middle of the year 543 B. C., by the great Kásyapa, on hearing the insidious address of the aged Subhadra.* "Revered ones!" said the dotard, "mourn no more! We are happily released from the control of the great Srámana (Buddha): we shall no more be worried with this is allowable,' and 'that is not allowable ;' we can now do what we wish, and can leave undone what we do not desire." Kásyapa reflected that the present was the most fitting time to summon a general assembly for the solemn rehearsal of Dharma and Vinaya, according to the injunction of Sákya. "Ananda," said the dying sage, "let the Dharma and Vinaya, which I have preached and explained to thee, stand in the place of a teacher after my death." Reflecting on this, and on the first of the imperishable precepts, "to hold frequent religious meetings," Kásyapa addressed the assembled Bhikshus.† "Beloved! let us hold a rehearsal both of the Dharma and of the Vinaya." "Lord," replied they, "do thou select the Sthúviras and Bhikshus.” Kásyapa therefore selected five hundred holy mendicant monks who had mastered the Tripitaka, or Three Repositories. By them it was decided that the First Synod should be held at Rajagriha during the rainy *Turnour, in Prinsep's Journal, vii. 512. + Turnour, in Prinsep's Journal, vii. 513. season, when the regular pilgrimages of the Buddhist monks were suspended. 3. At the full moon of the month of Asarh (1st July, 543 B. C.), the five hundred monks having assembled at Rajagriha, spent the whole of that month in the repairs of their Vihars, lest the heretics should taunt them,* saying, "the disciples of GOTAMA kept up their Vihars while their teacher was alive, but they have forsaken them since his death." With the assistance of Ajátasatra, Raja of Magadha, the Vihars were renewed; and a splendid hall was built for the assembly of the First Synod, at the mouth of the Sattapanni Cave, on the side of the Webhára Mountain. Five hundred carpets were spread around for the monks; one throne was prepared for the abbot on the south side, facing the north, † and another throne was erected in the middle, facing the east, "fit for the holy Buddha himself." Placing an ivory fan on this throne, the Raja sent a message to the assembly, saying, "Lords, my task is performed." 4. On the fifth of the increasing moon (first week of August), the monks, having made their meal, and having laid aside their refection dishes and extra Turnour, in Prinsep's Journal, vii. 516. + Sthavirásan, the ásan or "seat" of the Sthavira. In the Mahawanso, p. 12, the position of this throne is exactly reversed. The pulpit, or Dharmásan, “throne of Dharma," was placed in the middle of the Assembly.-See Turnour, in Prinsep's Journal, vii. 517. robes, assembled in the hall of the Dharma Synod, with their right shoulders bare. They ranged themselves according to their rank, each in his appropriate place; and the hall "glittered with the yellow robes" of the monks. 5. The Synod was opened with the rehearsal of the Vinúya, superintended by Upáli, whom Buddha himself had pointed out as the most learned of all his followers in "religious discipline." Upáli mounted the Dharmasan, and with the ivory fan* in his hand, answered all the questions of Kásyapa regarding the Vinaya, in which there was nothing to be added or omitted. During this examination, the whole of the assembled monks chanted the Vinaya, passage by passage, beginning with "The holy Buddha in Weranja dwells." This ended, Upáli laid aside the ivory fan, and descended from the Dharmásan; and, with a reverential bow to the senior monks, resumed his own seat. Thus ended the rehearsal of Vinaya. 6. For the rehearsal of Dharma, the assembled Bhikshus selected Ananda (the nephew and companion of Buddha)† who, with his right shoulder bare, and the ivory fan in his hand, took his seat on the pulpit * The "jewelled fan," as a symbol of authority, is mentioned in the Mahawanso, p. 189; and it is still used by the chiefs of religious fraternities in Ceylon, on all state sions. + According to some, he was the son of Dotodana, the younger brother of Suddhodan, the father of Sákya. of religion. He was then interrogated by Kásyapa "Through a long course of almost endless beings And over all desires victorious.” 8. The examination ended with Buddha's last injunction to his disciples, given under the Sál tree at Kusinára. "Bhikshus! I now conjure you-earthly things Are transitory-seek eternal rest." 9. These rehearsals of Vinaya and Dharma lasted for seven months, and were concluded at the beginning of March, 542 B. C., when it was announced that the religion of the "ten-power-gifted Deity" should endure for five thousand years. This synod was known by different names; as the PrathamaSangham, or First Synod, the Pancha-Satika-San Turnour, in Prinsep's Journal, vi. 523. In this hymn the Supreme Being is twice called Gahákáraka, the "housebuilder"—that is, the artificer or creator of the human house, or body. + See Turnour, in Prinsep's Journal, vi. 527; and Mahawanso, p. 11. The "gifted with ten powers." |