Buddhism
The Buddha:
*.The Buddha also known as Sakyamuni or Tathagata.
*.Born in 563 BC on the Vaishakha Poornima Day at Lumbini (near Kapilavastu) in Nepal.
*.His father Suddhodana was the Saka ruler.
*.His mother (Mahamaya, of Kosala dynastry) died after 7 days of his birth. Brought up by stepmother Gautami.
*.Married at 16 to Yoshodhara. Enjoyed the married life for 13years and had a son named Rahula.
*.After seeing an old man, a sick man, a corpse and an ascetic, he decided to become a wanderer.
*.Left his palace at 29 in search of truth (also called aE~MahabhinishkramanaaE? or The Great Renunication) and wandered for 6 years.
*.Attained aE~EnlightenmentaE? at 35 at Gaya in Magadha (Bihar) under the Pipal tree.
*.Delivered the first sermon at Sarnath where his five disciples had settled. His first sermon is called aE~DharmachakrapracartanaE? or aE~Turning of the Wheel of LawaE?.
*.Attained Mahaparinirvana at Kushinagar (identical with village Kasia in Deoria district of UP) in 483A BC at the age of 80 in the Malla republic.
Buddhist Councils:
*.First Council:At Rajgriha, in 483 BC under the Chairmanship of Mehakassaapa (king was Ajatshatru). Divided the teachings of Buddha into two Pitakas-Vinaya Pitaka and Sutta Pitaka.
*.Second Council:At Vaishali, in 383 BC under Sabakami (King was Kalasoka).Followers divided into Sthavirmadins and Mahasanghikas.
*.Third Council:At Pataliputra, in 250 BC under Mogaliputta Tissa (King was Ashoka) In this, the third part of the Tripitaka was coded in the Pali language.
*.Fourth council:At Kashmir (Kundalvan), in 72 AD under Vasumitra (King was Kanishka, Vice-Chairman was Ashwaghosha). Divided Buddhism into Mahayana and Hinayana sects.
Buddist Literature:In Pali language.
Vinaya Pitaka:Rules of discipline in the Buddhist monasteries.
Sutta Pitaka:Largest, contains collection of BuddhaaE?s sermons.
Abhidhamma Pitaka:Explanation of the philosophical principles of the Buddhist religion
