Nagarjuna

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NAGARJUNA

Nagarjuna lived in the first to second century C.E. He was born into a brahmin family of Vidarbha (Beda) in South India. At his birth, astrologers foretold that he would die at a very tender age but that his life span could be extended for a maximum of seven years by making consecrated offerings to monastics (life in Buddah, page 344).
Nagarjuna’s devout parents thus succeeded in lengthening the boy’s life span to the age of seven. But at that point, they were told that no amount of rituals could further prevent his death. Unable to bear the pain of watching their beloved son’s premature death, they sent him forth traveling with a trusted servant (life in Buddha page 413).
On his travels in South India, the boy had a vision of the transcendental Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, who guided him to the gates of the famous monastic university of Nâlandâ. There, the renowned adept Saraha (also known as Râhulabhadra) learned of his story and recommended reciting the mantra of Buddha Amitâyus (“Long Life”) to extend his life span (total zen, page 27).
On his eighth birthday, Saraha initiated the boy into the practice (sâdhana) of Amitâyus, and thus he was the spared the fate predicted by the astrologers. Nagarjuna or Siddhipâda, as the boy was known then, studied and practice vigorously and soon, under the protectorship of Buddha Manjushri, excelled in all branches of Buddhist learning. Later he was appointed as the abbot of Nâlandâ(life in Buddah, page 678).
According to one legend, Siddhipâda acquired the name Nagarjuna as follows. One day, a yogin who had been angered by monks of Vikramashîla, another famous Buddhist university of ancient India, set the monastery complex on fire by magical means. The smoke from the fire caused Mucilinda, the ruler of the serpent race, to fall seriously ill(life in buddah, page 680).
The call went out for the land’s most knowledgeable healer to intervene, and Siddhip...