Kundalavana
| Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R) |
Kundalavana (कुंडलवन) was the site of Buddhist council held by Kanishka headed by Vasumitra. After this Council there was compilation of the vast commentary known as the Mahavibhasha. Kundalavana is identified with the Kalaban near Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) or Kuvan in Jalandhar (Punjab).
Origin
Variants
- Kundalavana (कुंडलवन) (AS, p.194)
- Kundalvana/Kundalvan (कुंडलवन)
- Kundalban (कुंडलबन)
History
The Fourth Buddhist Council of the Sarvastivada tradition is said to have been convened by the Kushan emperor Kanishka (r. CE 127-151), perhaps in 78 at Kundalavana either at Jalandhar or in Kashmir. The Fourth Council of Kashmir is not recognized as authoritative for the Theravadins; reports of this council can be found in scriptures which were kept in the Mahayana tradition. The Mahayana tradition based some of its scriptures on (refutations of) the Sarvastivadin Abhidharma texts.
It is said that for the Fourth Council of Kashmir, Kanishka gathered 500 monks headed by Vasumitra, partly, it seems, to compile extensive commentaries on the Sarvastivadin Abhidharma, although it is possible that some editorial work was carried out upon the existing canon itself. The main fruit of this Council was the vast commentary known as the Mahāvibhāṣā ("Great Exegesis"), an extensive compendium and reference work on a portion of the Sarvastivadin Abhidharma.
Kalaban is the site of Buddhist Kundalvan Vihara, where 4th Buddhist Conference seem to be held, in the times of Kanishka, and where the account of deliberations of this conference were carved on copper plates and deposited in the Vihara.[1]
कुंडलवन
विजयेन्द्र कुमार माथुर[2] ने लेख किया है ...कुंडलवन (AS, p.194) कनिष्क के समय में (लगभग 120 ई.) तीसरे धर्म-संगीति (बौद्ध सम्मेलन) इस स्थान पर हुई थी. यह बौद्ध-विहार कश्मीर में संभवत: श्रीनगर के निकट ही था. इस सम्मेलन का प्रधान वसुमित्र और उपप्रधान पाटलिपुत्र-निवासी 'बुद्ध चरित' का ख्यातनामा लेखक अश्वघोष था. इसके 500 सदस्य थे. इस सम्मेलन के पश्चात महाविभाषा नामक ग्रंथ संगृहीत किया गया था. अब यह ग्रंथ केवल चीनी भाषा में ही प्राप्त है. तिब्बती लेखक तारानाथ लिखता है कि कुंडलवन की स्थिति कुछ लोग कश्मीर में तथा अन्य लोग जालंधर के निकट कुवन मानते हैं. वर्तमान अन्वेषण के आधार पर प्रथम मत ही ग्राह्य जान पड़ता है. कुछ विद्वानों के मत में तृतीय धर्म-संगीति पुरुषपुर या पेशावर में हुई थी.