Vinay Sutra

Author(s): Gunprabh Bhadant, Rahul Sankrutyayan
Publisher: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan

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1936 and 1938; he also visited European countries, Japan, Korea, Manchuria, Russia and Iran. He again courted jail in 1940. From 1944 to 1947 he became professor in the Leningard University of Russia. In 1958 he visited China and thereafter became a professor in Sri Lanka in 1959. Unfortunately he lost his memory in December 1961 and he expired on April 14, 1963. He was awarded the upādhi of Sahityavāchaspati, the Hon. Degree of D. Litt., and Upadhis of Mahāpaņdita and Tripitakācharya. He was made Padma Bhushan by the Government of India. He wrote novels, short stories, biographies, autobiography, travel literature and essays. He has also written on Science, Sociology, politics, philosophy and Religion. His editing translation and Research work in Sanskrit covers several volumes. He was a prolific writer and has written more than 125 works.
Even in the life time of Buddha there were certain persons like Upananda and Shadvargikas who liked to ignore some of the rules made by Buddha; and immediately after the demise of Buddha, there appears to have been the first Sangiti of the Buddhist texts where Mahākashyapa presided and even at that time there were some old monks like Purāna and Gavāmpati who expressed a dissident note. After Buddha there was no central figure commanding loyalty of the entire sangha. Buddha did not appoint any one. Different groups on the basis of region, teachers, or branches of study arose in due course. Even though Buddha had given up an extemely hard life and severe penance, he had to provide for certain classes of people who believed in them. Some of the monks paid great attention to minor practices and this led to the formation of many groups.
Hundred years after the death of Buddha the, Vrijin monks who came from the Eastern regions advocated some ten points which were opposed by monks of the Western region. There was a discussion and a decision was taken against the Vrijin monks, who, however, seemed to have a majority and they formed themselves into a separate group called the Mahāsanghikas and the orthodox group was known as sthaviravādins or therāvadins.
Thereafter, there were further subdivisions.
Up to the end of Maurya rule the centre of Buddhist religion was Magadha. But after the break up of the Magadha empire, the centre of Buddhist religion moved towards West to Mathura and Punjab and during the time of Kanishka it was in prominence in Gāndhara and Kāshmir.