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council. This council was called in the 1st century A, D., by Kanishka, the famous Saka conqueror who ruled over North Western India. This council of Kanishka drew up the three commentories which formed the basis of the Northern canon. Tbis canon which contains many corruptions and innorations introduced into the original Buddhism, prevails in China, Japan, Nepal and Tibet. The Northern canon is written in Sanskrit “ which had become by that time, the accepted literary vehicle of the learned throughout India”; while the Southern canon is written in Magadha dialect.
From this, we shall be able to see that not only were Jainism and Buddhism both di. vided into 2 sects, but the main and primary reason for this division, was in both cases to be found in a tendency in certain portions of the community to look with disfavour on the strict discipline enjoined on them.
Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
