Vairocanavajra
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Vairocanavajra | |
|---|---|
 13th-century Tibetan depiction of Vairocanavajra currently held at the Rubin Museum of Art | |
| Personal life | |
| Born | c. 12th century |
| Died | c. 12th century |
| Education | |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Buddhism |
| School | |
| Senior posting | |
| Teacher |
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Vairocanavajra (also known as Vairocana and Vairocanaraksita) was a 12th-century Indian Buddhist master and alchemist who studied at the monastery of Nalanda. He is known in particular for his work in the translations of the Charyapadas which have been described as "having a lasting effect on the literary history of Tibetan Buddhism."[2]
Vairocanavajra's biography was written by his Tibetan student, Zhang Yudrakpa Tsöndru Drakpa, shortly after his death and was intended to be a eulogy to his master.[2][3]
Vairochanavajra was born in the 12th century in the city of Sonapura in the region of Dakshina Kosala which is just south of Magadha. From the age of 12, he travelled with his uncle, who was a non-Buddhist, to different parts of India including Western India, Magadha, and Varanasi. During his travels, he met a yogin who initiated him into the practice of the bodhisattva, Manjushri.[4][2]
After this, he travelled to the monastery of Nalanda where he studied under a yogin called Surapela who belonged to the Kayastha caste. For the next eight years, Surapela taught Vairochanavajra about alchemy, arts and logic. In particular, he was taught the Dohā songs and the teachings of Maitripada. After this, he held a tantric gathering in the forests surrounding Nalanda with other masters including Siri and Mathanata. Vairochanavajra also came into contact with a scholar from the Vikramashila monastery called Gunaraksita. From him, Vairochanavajra received teachings on the Prajnaparamita, the Madhyamaka collection of teachings, and more complex tantras like the Guhyasamāja. During this period, he received teachings from other masters including Abhayakaragupta, Śarana, Jayākara and Dānaraksita.[2]
After this period of learning, Vairocanavajra is said to have "travelled the roads of twenty-four countries" and entered the country of the Western Xia via Tibet. He was appointed the priest of a ruler called Mu thang bu of the Shing kun City but was kept as a prisoner and not allowed to leave due to his knowledge of mercurial alchemy which was believed to lengthen one's life. Eventually, he aroused the displeasure of this King and was released and travelled to Tibet.[2][4]
