Tripitaka means Three basket in Pali language. It means Three big Library where the whole education, preached by Tathagata Buddha is preserved.

Prince Gautom took his birth in 623 B.C. He became enlightened in at the age of 35 years, and became Buddha. Buddha took mohaparinibbanna at the age of 80 years, on 543 B.C. Just after three month of His mohaparinibbanna, all the senior monks arranged a mohasangeeti (great Assembly, mohasabha) to preserve the whole teachings of buddha in pure form. It is called 1st Bauddha Sangeeti. It was arranged by King Ajatsatru and President was Ven Mohakashyap. At that time, it was preserved as Sutta Pitaka and Vinoy Pitaka. Teachings of Abhidhamma was included with Sutta Pitaka.

2nd Bauddha Mohasangeeti was arranged by kind Kalasok at Baisali to continuity of preservation of pitaka in pure form. in 383 B.C.

3rd Bauddha Sangeeti was arranged by King Ashok in 253 B.C.at Patiliputra.. Tissa Maggaliputta was the president for it. In this 3rd Bauddha Moha Sangeeti, Abhidhamma is separated from the Sutta Pitaka and is recognized as third Pitaka. From then onwards all the teachings remained divided as Tripitaka..

Once Buddha was walking through a forest with his followers. He took four leaves from a tree and asked his followers- which leaves are more in number? – Leaves in my hand or leaves remained in the forest? The monks answered leaves remained in forest are so more than the only four leaves in your hand. Buddha smiled, and explained, I am explaining you only four Noble Truth. But there are so many to learn, All the teachings about the four noble truth is preserved in Tripitaka. Vinaya Pitaka preserved 22 thousand verses. Sutta Pitaka preserved 22 thousand verses and Abhidhamma Pitaka preserved 42 verses. In total there are 84 thousand verses, which is very small for Buddha.