After the death of Budha - The Buddhist council

Three months after the Buddha’s death, his disciples convened a council in order to resolve these
matters and to preserve and protect the Buddha’s percepts. The first Buddhist council was thus held at
Rajagaha under the patronage of King Ajatasattu at Rajagaha. This council saw the compilation of two
of the three Buddhist Pitakas – Vinaya Pitaka (monastic rules) and Sutta Pitaka (sermons of the
Buddha).

After Buddhism’s initial proliferation, the first schism within the Buddhist sect occurred, one hundred
years after the first council. Convened at Vaisali under the patronage of King Kalasoka, the Second
Buddhist council which gathered to resolve some controversies on the Vinaya ended up being divided
into two groups, Sthaviravada (school of elders/traditionalists), Mahasanghika (greater sangha).

The growth of Buddhism

Buddhism continued to have a strong influence in the Indian subcontinent till the twelfth century; the
coming of the Muslim invasions and the revival of Hindu movements especially “Advaita” and “Bhakti”
undermined its popularity.

Moreover, as Buddhism came into contact with different religions, it adopted certain syncretic
elements. For instance, it adopted some aspects of Confucianism, Taoism and Shinto in China and
Japan, and some Tantric elements in Tibet. Subsequent reinterpretation of the Buddhist Dhamma in
accordance with the beliefs of the different syncretic Buddhist sects was followed by further
fragmentation of the Sangha.

However, today, regardless of the numerous sects, Buddhism remains a major World religion with over
500 million followers belonging to three major sects Theravada also called Hinayana(Lesser Vehicle),
Mahayana Buddhism (Larger Vehicle), and Vajrayana Buddhism (Diamond Vehicle).

Mahavira
After offering guidance to the public for thirty years, Lord Mahavira attained Nirvän in 527 B.C.,
at the age of seventy-two. Nirväna means that he attained liberation and became a Siddha who
no longer has to undergo the cycle of birth and death.

About one thousand years after Mahavira's time theAgam Sutras were recorded on Tadpatris (palm leaf
paper used then to form books). Swetambar Jains accept thesesutras as authentic teachings
while Digambar Jains use them as a reference.