The first Buddhist convocation took place in Kalsila cave near Jethian where 999 elders took part. This convocation was for several days and the rules of Vinaya were written under the direction of the elder Upali, and the sutras under the direction of Anand. This council was sponsored by Ajat Shatru. Tradition holds that on the full moon day of Shravan, the council was held in a hall erected by Ajat Shatru outside Saptaparni cave in Rajgir, three months after the Buddha's death. According to Xuan Zang, the Saptapani cave is actually the Pipulo cave which was the abode of Asuras. The actual cave according to Xuan Zang where the first convocation took place is Kalsila cave near Jethian. The structure that Ajat Shatru made is a village today by the name of Bhojpur. Bhoj means feast and Bhojpur is well placed directly below the Kalsila cave where the first Buddhist council took place. For a king to feed 999 council members, he needed more than two hundred workers to prepare the food for the council and visitors. Because the council must have been a grand publicized event.
Buddha, Buddhism, spirituality