Traverses on Less Trodden Path of Indian Philosophy and Religion

Author(s): Yajneshwar S Shastri
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 92

NĀGĀRJUNA IS MAHĀYĀNIST
Nagarjuna is one of the most outstanding philosophical personalities in the history of Buddhism. There is no second opinion among the scholars that in metaphysical profoundity, logical acumen and spiritual insight, he has few equals among Indian thinkers barring perhaps Sankara. But it is quite interesting to note that some of the modern scholars either expressed doubt about the very existence or historicity of Nagarjuna or questioned the authenticity of Nāgārjuna being a Mahāyānist. Prof. M. Walleser, thinks that a person known as philosopher Nāgārjuna might not have existed on this earth. He states that, the systematic development of thought of voidness laid down in the Prajnaparamitasūtras is brought into junction with the name of whom, we cannot even positively say that he has really existed, still less that he is the author of the works ascribed to him this name is Nagārjuna 1 Dr. A. K. Warder, known scholar of Buddhism of our present day, questioned the authenticity of Nāgārjuna being a Mabayanist. 2 As per my knowledge, there is no question about Nāgārjuna's historical personality. The great minds of Buddhism like Aryadeva (Nagarjuna's direct disciple), Kumārajiva, Huiyacin, Candrakirti and others hold him in high esteem in their writings. Lankāvatarasūtra spoke of him as glorious and renowned monk of Maha yāna Buddhism.3 The writings through which he made an extra-ordinary impact on the development of Buddhism and religious thought in the East and the images of him formed by the generations of Asians constitute his historical personality.
Many Jaina and Hindu texts mention his name as propagator of Sünyavada, 5 The followers of Buddhism of China, Tibet and Japan, in fact actually did consider him to be the second Buddha 6 who had once again set in motion the wheel of Dharma (i.e. truth and righteousness). 1. The Life of Nāgārjuna from Tibetan and Chinese Sources. M. Walleser. Nag
Publishers. New Delhi, 1979, p. 1. 2. Is Nāgārjuna Mahāyānist-A. K. Warder. Pub. Two truths in Buddhism and
Vedānta, Edited by M, Sprung, Holland. 1973, p. 78-88. 3. Saddharma Lānkāvatārasütra X-165, ed. P. L. Vaidya, Pub. : Mithila Institute,
Darbhanga, 1963, p. 118. 4. Nagarjuna, Part I-K. Satcidananda Murti, pub : National Book Trust of India,
New Delhi, 1971: p. 1. 5. Sarvadarsanasangraha-Madhavacāry. Ed : Umasankar Sharma, Chowkhamba Vidya
Bhavan, Varanasi, 1964. 6. Nagarjuna-K. S. Murti, p. 1.