Public Administration in Ancient India c22.13

c22.13

After Asoka the position of the head of the church was claimed by very few—if any—monarchs of India. Kings, however, in many parts of the country, continued to lend their active support to Buddhism by constructing Vihāras and Sanghārāmas,¹ by erecting images of the Buddha, by endowing Buddhist institutions, and by holding Buddhist religious assemblies. Under the sanction of Kanishka, the third Buddhist Great Council was held, at which the teaching of the three Pitakas was arranged according to the doctrines of the various schools. King Harshavardhana assembled every year the Sramanas from all countries, and bestowed on them gifts of all kinds. He ordered the priests to carry on discussions, and himself judged of their arguments, whether they were weak or strong.² He rewarded the good and punished the wicked, degraded the evil and promoted the men of talent. He showed great reverence and honour to priests who were learned and were distinguished for purity of life; but if any one disregarded the rules of morality, him he banished from the country, and would neither see him nor listen to him.¹