After the Mahaparinirvana of Buddha six Buddhist councils were summoned. These councils were presided over by various rulers and monks.The first Buddhist council was convened in about 483 BC under the patronage of king Ajatshatru and presided by a monk, Mahakashyap. The council was held in the Saptparni cave at Rajgriha. The importance of the first council was that 500 senior monks adopted Vinay-Pitak and Sutta- Pitak to acquire teaching of Buddha.