Early Monastic Buddhism v2.c30.s1.12

v2.c30.s1.12

Prof. Przyluski also has noted the geographical division of monks in his *Concile de Rājagṛha* (p. 308-9) and remarks that there were definitely three centres, viz., Vaiśālī,⁴ Kauśāmbī and Mathurā. Kauśāmbī and all south-western countries became later on the seat of the Theravādins while Mathurā and the north-western countries of the Sarvāstivādins. The Westerners of this Council were therefore the group of monks who came to be later on known as the Sthaviras and Sarvāstivādins while the Easterners, who made their seat at Vaiśālī, were the Mahāsaṅghikas and their offshoots. Whatever may have been the differences between the Easterners and Westerners, it is apparent that Buddhism was prevalent at the time all over the central belt of India from Avanti¹ to Vaiśālī and from Mathurā to Kauśāmbī. The chief centre of Buddhism, it seems, was shifted at that time from Rājagṛha to Pāṭaliputra which became then also the royal seat of the rulers. The Mahāsanghikas made Pāṭaliputra their chief centre.²