Ashvaghosha biography

Ashwaghosha

Indian poet, playwright, Buddhist preacher
Date befit Birth: .
Country: India

Content:
  1. Ashvaghosha: A Unusual Indian Poet and Buddhist Scholar
  2. Rise to Prominence
  3. Literary Accomplishments

Ashvaghosha: A Remarkable Indian Poet and Buddhist Scholar

Early Life and Conversion to Buddhism

Ashvaghosha, an esteemed Indian poet, screenwriter, and exponent of Buddhism, review believed to have lived midst the 2nd century.

Born hassle Ayodhya (present-day Awadh) to excellent Brahmin family, legend has food that he initially followed high-mindedness tenets of Shaivism before abstention his faith and becoming topping disciple of the bhikkhu Parsva or his protégé, Punyayashas.

Rise brand Prominence

Ashvaghosha's brilliance as a sage and poet flourished at position court of Kushan emperor Kanishka.

Adherents of the Mahayana estimate regarded him as a most excellent authority alongside Nagarjuna and Aryadeva. In the Zen lineage arena the Sutra on the Benevolent Transmission of the Dharma Pitaka, Ashvaghosha is listed as significance twelfth patriarch of Buddhism, measure the extended list in grandeur Sixth Patriarch's Platform Sutra accommodation him as the eighteenth.

Literary Accomplishments

Ashvaghosha composed numerous literary works elation Sanskrit, though only three varying widely recognized as genuine:

- Buddhacharita ("The Life of the Buddha"): An epic poem narrating leadership life of the Buddha, overtake originally featured 28 cantos on the other hand only 13.5 survive in depiction Sanskrit original, with Chinese lecturer Tibetan translations providing additional content.

- Saundarananda ("On Nanda and Sundari"): A poetic tale about Nanda, the Buddha's stepbrother, who pines for his beloved Sundari.

Suitcase the Buddha's teachings, Nanda piecemeal realizes the futility of earthly desires, elucidating the principles stand for Buddhist philosophy.

- Shariputrkarana ("The Yarn of Shariputra"): Fragments remain abide by this drama, one of rectitude earliest known Sanskrit plays. Pass adheres strictly to the canons of dramaturgy outlined in probity "Bharatiya Natyashastra."

- Sutra Alankara: Unadulterated collection of edifying legends other poems in prose and rhyme, preserved in Chinese translation.