Sthaviravada and Mahasanghika
Also called: Sthavira, Mahasanghika · Topic: Buddhism, Jainism and Heterodox Traditions · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
These were the two groups formed in the first major split in the Buddhist sangha (the community of monks). Tradition places the split at the Second Buddhist Council, held at Vaishali about a century after the Buddha's death. The Sthaviravadins ("followers of the elders") wanted the monastic rules kept strictly. The Mahasanghikas ("the great community") wanted a more relaxed approach. Later Buddhist schools grew out of this split.
Example
According to tradition, the quarrel began over rules such as whether monks could accept gold and silver. The Sthaviravada line later led to Theravada, which is followed today in Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand. The Mahasanghikas, with their more open ideas about the Buddha, are seen as forerunners of Mahayana.
Don't confuse with
- Mahayana and "Hinayana": This later division began around the first century CE. It was about the Bodhisatta ideal and image worship, not mainly about monastic rules.
Related concepts
- Tipitaka
- Vinaya Pitaka
- Sutta Pitaka
- Abhidhamma Pitaka
- Abhidhamma Divas
- Pali
- Pali classical language
- Buddhist councils
- First Buddhist council
- Second Buddhist council