[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [Dictionary of Pali Proper Names](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.malalasekera-1937) › v2.c31.2168 # Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c31.2168 Dictionary of Pāli Proper Names v2.c31.2168 - **Language:** English ### [v2.c31.2168](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.malalasekera-1937.v2.c31.2168) Mahāsaṅghikā, Mahāsaṅgītikā.—One of the Buddhist schools which separated out from the Theravādins at the Second Council. The members rejected the Parivāra, the six sections of the Abhidhamma, the Paṭisambhidāmagga, the Niddesa and some portions of the Jātakas.¹ The school was so called owing to the great number of its followers, which made a great assembly or " Mahāsaṅgīti." They were counted among the Anātmavādins, and later gave rise to the following schools: the Mahāsaṅghika, Pubbasela, Aparasela, Rājagiriyā, Hemavatas, Cetiyavādins, Saṅkantivādins and Gokulikas. Originally they had only two divisions—the Ekabbohārikas and Gokulikas.² Their separation from the orthodox school was brought about by the Vajjiputta monks, and was probably due to difference of opinion on the ten points³ held by the Vajjiputta monks. According to Northern sources, however, the split occurred on the five points raised by Mahādeva: (1) An arahant may commit a sin under unconscious temptation; (2) one may be an arahant and unconscious of the fact; (3) an arahant may have doubts on matters of doctrine; (4) one cannot attain arahantship without the help of a teacher; (5) the " Noble Way " may begin with some such exclamation as " How sad!" uttered during meditation.⁴ These articles of faith are found in the Kathāvatthu,⁵ attributed to the Pubbaselas and the Aparaselas, opponents of the Mahāsaṅghika school. According to Hiouen Thsang,⁶ the Mahāsaṅghikas divided their canon into five parts: Sūtra, Vinaya, Abhidhamma, Miscellaneous and Dhāraṇī. Fa Hsien took from Pāṭaliputta to China a complete transcript of the Mahāsanghika Vinaya.⁷ The best known work of the Mahāsanghikas is the Mahāvastu. Their headquarters in Ceylon were in Abhayagiri-vihāra, and Sena I. is said to have built the Viraṅkurārāma for their use.⁸ - [Previous: v2.c31.2167](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.malalasekera-1937.v2.c31.2167) - [Next: v2.c31.2169](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.malalasekera-1937.v2.c31.2169) - [Up: v2.c31](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.malalasekera-1937.v2.c31) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.malalasekera-1937.v2.c31.2168](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.malalasekera-1937.v2.c31.2168) · Pramāṇa