Rahula Shribhadra
Rahula Shribhadra (also spelt as Rāhula-śrī-Bhadra or Rahulashribhadra), was a 13th-century Buddhist monk who served as the abbot of the monastery of Nalanda known for his interactions with the Tibetan monk and pilgrim, Dharmasvamin.[1] He is also referenced in the works of the 15th/16th century monk, Taranatha who stated that four more great teachers followed him as abbot of Nalanda.[2] He has been described as the last known abbot of Nalanda.[3]
When Dharmasvamin visited Nalanda around 1236/1237,[4] he found 80 small viharas, which had been abandoned after being damaged by the Turushkas, and only two of the viharas were functional.[5] Less than hundred monks resided there, and a local king named Buddhasena of the Pithipati dynasty financially supported the Nalanda's 90-year abbot Rahula Shribhadra and the 70 students who stayed there.[6] Dharmasvamin studied under Rahula Shribhadra, who specialised in grammar and also had knowledge of the Tibetan language. Rahula Shribhadra encouraged Dharmasvamin to return to Tibet, as in the previous year, another Tibetan student had died due to a high fever. However, Dharmasvamin stayed in Nalanda for the course of the rainy season, and as predicted by his master, he fell ill. His studies were also continually disrupted by ongoing raids by Turuskas, which sometimes forced the monks to seek shelter in the forest including one occasion where Dharmasvamin was forced to carry Rahula Shribhadra on his back. Despite these challenges, Dharmasvamin completed his studies in March 1236.[7]
It has been noted that scholars who mastered the "five sciences" were given the title of pandita and Rahula Shribhadra held the title of "Mahapandita".[8]
References
- ↑ LaRocca, Donald (2006). Warriors of the Himalayas: Rediscovering the Arms and Armor of Tibet. Metropolitan Museum of Art. p. 49. ISBN 9781588391803. Search this book on
- ↑ Warder, A.K. (2015). Indian Buddhism. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 483–484. ISBN 9788120808188. Search this book on
- ↑ Sarao, KTS (2020). The History of Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya. Springer Nature. p. 88. ISBN 9789811580666. Search this book on
- ↑ Prabhu Ray, Himanshu (2014). The Return of the Buddha: Ancient Symbols for a New Nation. Routledge. p. 149. ISBN 9781317560067. Search this book on
- ↑ André Wink (2002). Al-Hind: The Slavic Kings and the Islamic conquest, 11th-13th centuries. BRILL. pp. 147–148. ISBN 0-391-04174-6. Search this book on
- ↑ Steven Kossak; Jane Casey Singer, eds. (1998). Sacred Visions: Early Paintings from Central Tibet. Metropolitan Museum of Art. p. 14. ISBN 978-0-87099-862-1. Search this book on
- ↑ Roerich 1959, p. vi.
- ↑ Miśra, Bhāskaranātha (1998). Nālandā: Sources and background. B.R. Publishing Corporation. p. 261. ISBN 9788176460163. Search this book on
Sources
- Roerich, George (1959). Biography of Dharmasvamin (Chag Lo Tsa-ba Chos-rje-dpal) a Tibetan Monk Pilgrim. K.P. Jayaswal Research Institute. Search this book on
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