Nagarjuna and Aryadeva
By P. S. Sastri
Summary
In the article 'Nagarjuna and Aryadeva' the author examines the early lives and philosophical contributions of two major figures in Mahayana Buddhism. The article notes that multiple personalities named Nagarjuna appear in Buddhist historiography, which has led to confusion about his birthplace and era. The Madhyamaka master Nagarjuna is traditionally placed in the second century but Tibetan sources cite various regions for his birth, including Vidarbha and Vedali. Analysis of Sanskrit verses suggests his birthplace was Vedali rather than Vidarbha. The article traces Nagarjuna’s biography, from his youth as a scholar versed in Vedic and Jain doctrine to his conversion to Buddhism and the establishment of the Madhyamaka school. Nagarjuna’s seminal work, the Mulamadhyamakakarika, uses dialectical argument to show that all phenomena are empty of inherent existence. This view of emptiness became foundational for Mahayana philosophy. The article also examines Nagarjuna’s wide corpus, including treatises on the Bodhisattva path, poetic hymns and medical works. Aryadeva is introduced as Nagarjuna’s principal disciple. Historical sources agree that he was born in Sri Lanka and travelled to India to study under Nagarjuna. Chinese biographies describe him as a brilliant debater who helped spread Madhyamaka ideas across South and Central Asia. He is credited with the Catusastaka (Four Hundred Verses), an influential text that applies Nagarjuna’s dialectic to topics such as the nature of the self, knowledge and meditation. The article discusses how Aryadeva defended the concept of emptiness against contemporary opponents and elaborated on Nagarjuna’s notion of the two truths, distinguishing between conventional reality and ultimate truth. Throughout, the study emphasises how the teacher–student relationship between Nagarjuna and Aryadeva shaped Mahayana thought and how careful analysis of primary Sanskrit, Tibetan and Chinese sources can clarify misunderstandings about their biographies.
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Conclusion
The study concludes that Nagarjuna’s critical analysis of concepts such as causation and substance defined the Madhyamaka school, while Aryadeva systematised and disseminated these ideas through his Four Hundred Verses. By resolving debates about their origins, the article underscores the historical continuity from India to Sri Lanka and beyond. It highlights how their partnership exemplified the transmission of philosophical inquiry in Mahayana Buddhism and why understanding their biographies is essential for interpreting later traditions.