Taranatha’s History of Buddhism in India
By Nalinaksha Dutt, U. N. Ghoshal
Summary
The article presents a translation and analysis of a chapter from Tāranātha’s seventeenth‑century ‘History of Buddhism in India,’ a Tibetan chronicle renowned for its blend of history and legend. The selected chapter recounts the period when Pandita Nāgārjuna rejuvenated Mahāyāna doctrine. It describes how Nāgārjuna’s charisma drew thousands of monks and lay supporters, leading sects of various persuasions to acknowledge him as their teacher. Tāranātha lists Nāgārjuna’s disciples, such as Bhadanta Nānda and Bhadanta Samyakśyāna, and notes that he supported the Saṅgha by turning base metal into gold—a miracle typical of Tibetan hagiography. The narrative then tells how the goddess Cundā (Caṇḍikā) appeared to Nāgārjuna, agreed to maintain the monks, and promised to remain until the Mahāyāna decline. The article comments on the mixture of doctrinal exposition and folklore in Tāranātha’s account, pointing out that while his dates are sometimes vague, his stories preserve valuable traditions about late Indian Buddhism. The translator elucidates obscure Tibetan terms, compares the account with Chinese pilgrim records, and observes that Tāranātha’s emphasis on magic and prophecy reflects the syncretic Buddhism of his own time. The paper thus provides not only a new source for the study of Nāgārjuna’s legend but also an example of how Tibetan scholars perceived India’s Buddhist past.
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Conclusion
By offering a carefully annotated translation of Tāranātha’s narrative on Nāgārjuna, the article highlights how Tibetan historiography fused hagiography with historical memory. It enriches our understanding of late Indian Buddhism and demonstrates the need to read such sources critically, balancing their mythic elements against corroborating inscriptions and pilgrim reports.