Jain Councils

Jainism is a religion that originated in ancient India. The main value of this religion is non-violence or ‘ahimsa’. Towards the end of the Chandragupta Maurya Empire and two hundred years after the death of the last Jain Tirthankara, Mahavira, a famine broke out at Magadha. Due to this famine, Chandragupta Maurya, who was a follower of Jainism and Bhadrabahu travelled to Karnataka. The Jains that were left at Magadha were led by Sthulabhadra. The first Jain Council was held at Pataliputra where the sacred books of the Jains, which contained the teachings of Mahavira, were arranged. The council ended in the creation of two different Jain sects. The group of Jains who migrated to Karnataka believed that complete nudity was a part of Mahavira’s teachings. However, the Jains who stayed back at Magadha started putting on white clothes. The second Jain council was held simultaneously at Mathura and Vallabhi. The third Jain Council was again held at Vallabhi. 

Pataliputra Council

Towards the end of the Chandragupta Maurya Empire, a famine broke out in the southern region of Bihar that lasted for twelve years. The first council of the Jains was held in 300 BC, i.e., 160 years after the death of Mahavira at Pataliputra (modern-day Bihar). At this council, Jainism was divided into two sects, Svetambara and Digambara.

The last acharya of the undivided Jains and the leader of the Digambara sect, Bhadrabahu and his followers, travelled to Sravanabelgola in Karnataka to escape the famine. The leader and founder of the Svetambara sect, Sthulabhadra and his followers remained in Magadha. 

After the famine was over, the Jains gathered at Pataliputra and held their first council there. In this council, the Jains divided Mahavira’s teachings into twelve Angas. The twelve Angas can be listed as follows:

• Samavāyānga
• Jnātrdhārmakathāh
• Antakrddaaśāh
• Vyākhyāprajñapti or Bhagavati sūtra
• Sūtrakrtanga
• Anuttaraupapātikadaśāh
• Upāsakadaśāh
• Vipākaśruta
• Drstivāda
• Ācāranga sutra
• Praśnavyākaranani
• Sthānānga

The Jains, however, managed to gather only eleven Angas. The Drstivāda was lost due to the famine and could not be compiled. Bhadrabahu, who was at that time in Nepal, possessed the knowledge of the Purvas. 

Emissaries were sent to him by the Sanghas who asked him if he could teach them the Drstivāda. Bhadrabahu refused this request and said that he has been out of practice due to the famine. The emissaries returned to the Sanghas and conveyed Bhadrabahu’s reluctance. 

The Sanghis again sent the emissaries back to Bhadrabahu to ask the punishment for disobeying the Sanghis. Bhadrabahu responded by saying that anyone who disobeys the Sanghis should be expelled. Bhadrabahu demanded not to be expelled and asked them to send intelligent students so that he could teach them. 

Second Jain Council

The second council of the Jains was held simultaneously at two places. It was held both at Vallabhi, in Gujrat and Mathura, in Uttar Pradesh. In Vallabhi, the council was held under the guidance of Nagarjuna. The main objective of this council was to continue the compilation of sacred texts. 

The second council was held in 512 AD. Devaradhi Kshama Ramana presided over the council as the chairman. In this council, the final compilation of the twelve Angas and the twelve Upangas took place.

Third Jain Council

The third Jain council is also referred to as the Vallabhi council II. This council was convened by the monks of the Svetambara sect at Vallabhi, now in Gujarat. Devarddhigani Kshamashramana presided over this council as the chairman. 

The main objective of this council was to reduce the writings in the sacred texts (Agamas). This council was held in 453 or 456 CE, i.e., 980 or 993 years after the death of Mahavira. This council was attended by more than 500 Jain acharyas. 

Conclusion 

Jain councils started after a twelve-year long famine towards the end of the Chandragupta Maurya empire. When the famine ended, the Jains held a council at Pataliputra to compile the teachings of Mahavira. In this council, the teachings of Mahavira were divided into twelve volumes or Angas. However, only eleven Angas could be compiled, as the twelfth Anga was lost. After the first Jain council, Jainism was divided into two sects, Svetambara and Dighambara. The Svetambara sect was led by Sthulabhadra and the Digambara sect was led by Bhadrabadu.

In the second Jain Council, the final compilation of the twelve Angas and the twelve Upangas took place. This council was held at two places simultaneously. One at Mathura and the other at Vallabhi. In the third Jain council, the Jain literature was written down as per the version of the Mathura council. This council was held at Vallabhi.