Introduction to The First Buddhist Council and the Bhāņakas

            In ancient India recitation and memorization were regarded as the only means for the preservation of records. From the vedic records it is known that this practice was followed in India in the early vedic period. Thought the succession of teachers, the Buddha’s speeches, sayings, discourse and conversation were handed down orally from generation to generation. It should be noted that at the time nobody took the serious notice to preserve the Buddha’s actual words properly. It is told in the Mahāparinibbāna Sutta of Dīghanikāya that the Buddha himself has told his disciples someday there will be a misinterpretation of his doctrine or teaching and for this reason the Buddha gave them a talk and wanted to verify his words in four days. He feared that His teachings might be misrepresented and for this reason he warned them to be realized that His prophesy came true and they faced various difficulties in the Saºgha. When all the Buddha’s followers with the exception of Anāgamis and Arahants were plunged in deep grief and were weeping and lamenting, but and immoral Bhikkhu named Subhadda., Who had entered the order in his old age, was the only one that rejoiced over his death.

So these unexpected words fell from the lips of a disciple, alarmed to hear these words and they thought that his talks might disturb the peaceful atmosphere of the Sangha. And it induced venerable Mahākassapa, the third chief disciple of the Buddha to hold a council of leading Arahants in order to protect and fortify the Sasana. In the history of Buddhism this council became known as the first Buddhist council. In this council the Dharma and the Vinaya were settled. At that time there was no separate existence of the Abhidhamma. It was then regarded as the part of the Dharma. It is to be noted that the traditionl teachings of the Buddha were then collected under the two principal divisions, which were known as the Dharma and Vinaya.

From the time of the Buddha until first century A.D. Buddhist teachings were preserved in oral tradition. From generation to generation, different portions of teachings were handed down. The first beginning of this tradition, which is called Bhānakas, was at the first Buddhist council. According to the Pali records available today on the first Buddhist council after the collection and classification of the teachings. They were entrusted to different groups of monks their duty was to learn by hard the given teachings, protect it well, not allow it to be polluted and handed down the teachings to next generation safely to be protected for future. In this process learning by hard and constant reciting was very important. Therefore these monks came to be called reciters (Bhānakas).

From the five hundred monks who participated in the first Buddhist council, a few prominent monks were selected to be the heads of the Bhānakas. At the first council the teachings of the Buddha, both the Dharma and Vinaya, were entrusted to monks as follows.         

                                                                                     

                                 Teachings                          Bhāņakas

1.	Vinaya pitaka	Ven. Upali and his disciples
2.	Dīghanikāya	Ven. Ānanda and his disciples
3.	Majjhimanikāya	Disciples of Ven. Sāriputta
4.	Samyuttanikāya	Ven. Mahākassapa and disciples
5.	Anguttaranikāya	Ven. Anuruddha and his disciples
6.	Khuddakanikāya including Abhidhamma pitaka	All monks

                          

The Tipitaka is an extensive body of canonical Pāli literature in which are enshrined the teaching of Gotama Buddha expounded for forty-five years form the time of his enlightenment to Parinibbāna.

The discourses of the Buddha in Dīgha covers a vast area of subjects and are made up of exhortations, expositions and injunctions. The general discourses and sermons given in this are intended mostly for both the Bhikkhus and lay disciples, delivered by the Buddha on various occasion together with a few discourses delivered by some of the distinguished disciples, are collected and classified in great divisions known as the Suttanta pitaka.

The philosophy aspect of the Buddha’s teaching, more profound and abstract then the discourses of the Suttanta pitaka, is classified under the great divisions known as the Abidhamma Pitaka. Abhidhamma deals with ultimate Truths, expounds ultimate truths and investigate mind, matter, and the relationship between them.

            All that the Buddha’s taught forms the subject matter and substance of the Pāli canon, which is divided into these three divisions called Pitakas. Literally it means three baskets or three separate divisions of the Buddha’s teaching.

Posted in: