Age of the Nandas and Mauryas c12.s10.8

c12.s10.8

The account, as may be seen, has a pronounced sectarian tendency and tries to prove the originality and superiority of the Theravāda or the Vibhajyavāda school. This clearly shows that it was a party meeting of which the historicity may not be disputed, but the story of the compilation of the *Kathāvatthu*, which again presupposes the existence of the entire Pāli canon consisting of the Vinaya, the 5 nikāyas and six other Abhidhamma works must be made an exception.