King Asoka and Buddhism - Urban Dharma

I have drawn closer to the Sangha and have becomemore ardent.” Thapar, p. 259.49. Mhv., V, 78. All Buddhist sources, Pali and Sanskrit, speakof 84,000 Vihāras. Sanskrit sources call them Dharmarājikas.The Vihara ascribed to Aśoka in Taxila is knownas Dharmarājika Vihāra. Chinese tradition gives thefigure as 80,000. Cf. Edkins, p. 105.50. Mhv., V, 201 – 206; XIII – XX. The most controversial issueamong Aśokan scholars has been the identity and authenticityof Mahinda and Saṅghamittā. Their names as wellas their roles and achievements have been mentioned onlyin Sri Lankan sources. Traditions recorded by Chinese pilgrimshave introduced further confusions. Early scholars,who had no idea of the Buddhist practice of renamingpersons entering the Sangha, considered the nameSanghamittā (a friend of the Sangha) to be a later fabrication.Cf. names like Sanghadāsi (Jataka VI, p. 481 andDhammapadaṭṭhakathā I, p. 396), Sanghadāyikā (ApadānaII, p. 655) and Sanghā (Therīgāthā, verse 18). These werenames of people who were not adherents of Buddhism.51. Both the Sri Lankan Pali sources and those of the NorthernBuddhists (e.g. Divyāvadāna) agree on the figure96 crores as the sum spent by Aśoka on his massiveprogramme of constructing Vihāras, etc. Mhv., V, 79 – 80.Regarding the impact of his generosity on the Sangha,see V, 228 – 56.52. Mhv., XII, XVIII, XIX.53. MRE XIII231