Moggaliputta

Moggaliputta Tissa was a prominent Buddhist monk and scholar who lived during the reign of the Mauryan emperor Ashoka. He is most renowned for presiding over the Third Buddhist Council, which is traditionally believed to have been convened in Pataliputra, the capital of the Mauryan Empire, around 250 BCE. The council's primary objective was to address doctrinal disputes and purify the Sangha (monastic community) from corrupt elements.

During this council, Moggaliputta Tissa is credited with compiling the Kathavatthu, a significant text within the Abhidhamma Pitaka, the philosophical and psychological section of the Pāli Canon. The Kathavatthu refutes various heterodox Buddhist views that had arisen, thereby establishing a more orthodox interpretation of the Buddha's teachings. His efforts were crucial in consolidating and preserving the Dhamma.

Furthermore, Moggaliputta Tissa played a key role in the propagation of Buddhism. He is said to have dispatched missionaries to various regions, including Sri Lanka, to spread the teachings of the Buddha. The chronicles of Sri Lanka, particularly the Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa, attribute the introduction of Buddhism to the island to his efforts, with his disciple Mahinda being sent as the primary envoy. His influence extended beyond India, contributing to Buddhism's establishment as a major world religion.