Age of the Nandas and Mauryas c12.s10.12

c12.s10.12

The compelling of a monk or a nun to put on white robes and to reside in non-residence meant expulsion from the community, a punishment prescribed in the Vinayas for the offence of Saṅghabheda. Aśoka certainly did not issue the edict to give publicity to the already existing Vinaya rule concerning Saṅghabheda. The church must have shown serious symptoms of disintegration and this was a special measure to safeguard its unity. The tradition confirms that Aśoka’s fears were justified. It is said that during the third century of the Nirvāṇa, a number of schools such as Sarvāstivāda, Mahīśāsaka, Dharmaguptaka etc. made their appearance within the orthodox section of the church (Theravāda). The Mahāsānghika school which had long separated from it was also split up into a number of schools.