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Thus on the basis of above literary as well as inscriptional evidences, we cannot deny the historicity of the Third Council held in Pătaliputra under the presidency of Moggaliputta
Tiss.
Other Councils
Other Councils also were summoned for various purposes at different times. The Fourth Council was held under the auspices of Kaniska in about 100 A. D. According to the Mahavamsa and Other Ceylonese traditions, three Councils were held in Ceylon. The First was held during the reign of king Devanarupiya Tissa ( 247 207 B C.) under the presidency of the Venerable Arittha Thera. The Second Council was held during the time of King Vattagamini Abhaya (about 101-77 B. C. ) under the presidency of Mahāthera Rakkhita and the Canon was reduced to writing. It was held at the AluVihara in the village of Matale in Ceylon. The Third Council was conducted in 1865 at Ratnapura in Ceylon under the presidency of the Venerable Hikkaduve siri Sumangala. Two Councils have been held in Thailand (Siam ). Some Councils were summoned in Burma too. The so-called Fifth Council held in Mandelay is very important, as the text of the Canon fixed at this Council was engraved on marble slabs which for the last so many years had proved to be the most reliable record of the Buddhist Canon. The Sixth Buddhist Council was inaugurated in May 1954 in Rangoon with the collaboration of the various countries of the Buddhist world.
