Titles:
- Second Buddha (Second Tathagatha)
- Indian Martin Luther
- Indian Einstein
- Founder of Madhyamika path.
Key Information:
- The book which gives information about Nagarjuna was the Lankavatara Sutra (Maitreya nadha).
- According to this book, he was born in the village “Vedali” (is in Telangana according to historians).
- He established “Nagarjuna University” in Sri Parvatham, which was the 2nd University in India (1st Taxsila).
- Acharya Nagarjuna expanded Mahayana Buddhism in Andhra Desham.
- He built stone arches for Mahachaitya at Amaravati and Shilamantapa at Srisailam.
Literary Contributions
Acharya Nagarjuna has written 24 books in Sanskrit. The important books are:
- Suhrullekha
- This book is the summary of the conversations between Acharya Nagarjuna and Yajna Sri Satakarni.
- According to the Chinese traveler I-tsing, in that period, every student used to by-heart this book.
- Ratnavali
- This book discusses the “welfare state concept.”
- Nagarjuna explains administrative policies in this book.
- Pragnaparamita Shastram
- It means Perfection of Wisdom.
- It is an important book for Mahayana Buddhism.
Other books of Acharya Nagarjuna:
- Aarogya Manjari
- Rasavadham (on physics)
- Shunyata Saptathi
- Madhyamika Karika
- Rasa Ratnakaram (on Chemistry)
- Pragna Paramita
Philosophical Contributions
- Nagarjuna started two new philosophies in Mahayana Buddhism:
- Madhyamika School
- Sunyata (emptiness)
- Acharya Nagarjuna is regarded as “Indian Einstein” because his Sunyata Philosophy contains “Theory of Relativity,” which is similar to Einstein’s concepts.
Disciple of Nagarjuna:
- Aryadeva
- Aryadeva’s book was Chittasuddi Prakaranam.
- Aryadeva became the head of Nagarjuna University after the death of Acharya Nagarjuna.