Some Buddhist Thinkers of Andhra
By P. S. Sastri
Summary
The article profiles a series of influential Buddhist philosophers from the Andhra region of India, highlighting their contributions to Buddhist thought. Among the thinkers discussed are Nāgārjuna, founder of the Madhyamaka school; Āryadeva, his prominent disciple; and later logicians such as Bhāvaviveka and Dignāga. The author describes how Nāgārjuna’s doctrine of emptiness (śūnyatā) offered a radical critique of both substantive realism and nihilism, arguing that all phenomena arise dependently. Āryadeva’s works elaborated on this philosophy and engaged with rival schools. Bhāvaviveka introduced a systematic method of argumentation, while Dignāga pioneered Buddhist logic and epistemology, developing theories of perception, inference and the criteria of valid cognition. The article situates these thinkers within the historical context of Andhra’s flourishing monastic universities and its role as a hub for Mahāyāna debate. It also notes the region’s interaction with other parts of India and Central Asia through pilgrimage and trade routes. By emphasising the innovative contributions of Andhra scholars, the study challenges assumptions that Buddhist philosophy was shaped solely in the Gangetic heartland.
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Conclusion
The author concludes that Andhra produced some of the most creative minds in Buddhist history. The works of Nāgārjuna, Āryadeva, Bhāvaviveka and Dignāga revolutionised metaphysics, logic and epistemology, and their ideas resonated across Asia. Recognising this regional contribution broadens our understanding of how Buddhist thought developed through diverse intellectual centres.