The Fourth Buddhist Council, held under the patronage of the Kushana king Kanishka, took place in:

The Fourth Buddhist Council was held at Kundalavana (Kundalvana) in Kashmir, in the 1st century CE (around 72-100 CE), under the patronage of the Kushana king Kanishka.

About the Fourth Council:

• It was presided over by Vasumitra, with Ashvaghosha as his deputy (vice-president).
• It was attended by about 500 monks.
• It compiled extensive commentaries on Buddhist texts, called the "Vibhashas" ("Mahavibhasha"), which were written in Sanskrit.
• According to tradition, these commentaries were engraved on copper plates and kept in a stupa.
• It was mainly a council of the Sarvastivada school (a school of the Hinayana tradition).

The split into Mahayana and Hinayana:

• This council is traditionally associated with the division of Buddhism into two main branches: Mahayana and Hinayana.
• Mahayana became popular in Central Asia, China and other countries along the Silk Route.

Location:

• Some scholars suggest that the council was held at Jalandhar (Punjab) instead, according to some Tibetan sources.
• The village of Harwan near Srinagar is sometimes identified with Kundalavana.

About Kanishka:

• He was the greatest king of the Kushana dynasty.
• His empire extended from Central Asia (Bactria) to the Ganga valley, with his capital at Purushapura (Peshawar).
• He built a great stupa at Peshawar.
• His coins show images of Greek, Iranian and Indian gods, including the Buddha.
• He started an era in 78 CE, which is identified by many scholars with the Shaka era.

The four Buddhist councils:

• First: Rajagriha (about 483 BCE).
• Second: Vaishali (about 383 BCE).
• Third: Pataliputra (about 250 BCE).
• Fourth: Kashmir (1st century CE).

Why not the other options?

• ✗Pataliputra, Vaishali and Rajagriha were the venues of the earlier councils.