World of Philosophy

Author(s): Christopher Key Chapple, Intaj Malek, Dilip Charan, Sunanda Shastri, Prashant Dave
Publisher: Shanti Prakashan

Page 880

NĀGĀRJUNA IS MAHĀYĀNIST
Prof. Dr. Yajneshwar's Shastri
Nāgārjuna 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 Nāgārjuna 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 Prajñāpāramitāsūtras 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 Nāgārjuna. Dr. A. K. Warder, known scholar of Buddhism of our present day, questioned the authenticity of Nāgārjuna being a Mahāyānist.? As per my knowledge, there is no question about Nāgārjuna's historical personality. The great minds of Buddhism like Aryadeva (Nāgārjuna's direct disciple), Kumārajiva, Huiyacin, Candrakīrti and others hold him in high esteem in their writings. Lankavatārasūtra spoke of him as glorious and renowned monk of Mahāyāna Buddhism. The writings through which he made an extraordinary 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 Sünyavāda. The followers of Buddhism of China, Tibet and Japan, in fact actually did consider him to be the second Buddha who had once again set in motion the wheel of Dharma (i.e. truth and righteousness).
It is true that there is no authentic biographical data, no reliable historical account of Nāgārjuna is existent. In fact it is difficult to draw satisfactory picture of him because his figure is obviously overlaid by many legends and myths, many of which had nothing to do with him. And no where Nāgārjuna himself gives his historical account. But on this basis to carry doubt about Nāgārjuna's very existence, indicates ignorance about Indian tradition. In India even the greatest poets, philosophers and writers, were not used to write about themselves. They were so humble in their nature that they tbought writing about themselves amounts to self-praise. These renowned masters were known through their disciples and followers. There was a Guru-Sisya tradition in India. Nāgārjuna belongs to this great tradition. He was known through his works and
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