One of the major events of Ashoka’s reign was the convening of the ______ Buddhist Sangha (council) in 250 BCE in the capital Pataliputra.

Third

The correct answer is Option 1- Third

One of the major events of Ashoka’s reign was the convening of the Third Buddhist Sangha (council) in 250 BCE in the capital Pataliputra.

The Third Buddhist Council was convened by Ashoka to purify the Buddhist Sangha and to establish a definitive version of the Buddhist scriptures. The council was attended by 1,000 monks, and it was presided over by Moggaliputta Tissa.

The council resulted in the compilation of the Abhidhamma Pitaka, the third and final division of the Pali Canon. The Abhidhamma Pitaka is a philosophical work that analyzes the Buddhist teachings in detail.

The Third Buddhist Council was a major event in the history of Buddhism, and it had a significant impact on the development of the religion. The council helped to standardize the Buddhist scriptures and to unify the Buddhist Sangha.

Buddhist Councils: Location and Presiding Figures

First Council:
Location: Sattapanni Caves, Rajgriha (present-day Rajgir)
Patronage: King Ajatashatru
Presided by: Mahakassapa (monk)

Second Council:
Location: Vaishali
Patronage: Uncertain
Presided by: Uncertain (possibly several elders)

Third Council:
Location: Pataliputra (present-day Patna)
Patronage: Emperor Ashoka
Presided by: Moggaliputta Tissa (monk)

Fourth Council:
Location: Kundalvana, Kashmir
Patronage: King Kanishka
Presided by: Vasumitra and Ashvaghosha (monks)