Aspects of Mahayana Buddhism and its Relation to Hinayana c5.s3.t3.1.4

c5.s3.t3.1.4

In the *Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa*⁵ also Dhānyakaṭaka, Śrīparvata, and a few other places of the Dakṣiṇāpatha are mentioned, showing the prevalence of Buddhism there. Nāgārjuna, whose birthplace was in Vidarbha (Berar),⁶ also dwelt in the south, passing his last days at Śrīparvata (mod. Śrīśailam).⁷ Āryadeva likewise came from Southern India, as did also Nāga,⁸ the other disciple of Nāgārjuna. So, it appears that the south may claim credit for being not only the birthplace of Mahāyāna itself, but also of the noted figures, who were instrumental in making Mahāyāna what it was in the 2nd and 3rd century A. C. The dates of Āryadeva and Nāga are placed in the early part of the 3rd century (200-225) and Nāgārjuna precedes them by a few decades.¹ The glory of Nāgārjuna and his school of philosophy threw into the shade the great figure of Maitreya, the traditional founder of the Yogācāra school, until the time of Asaṅga, who brought his works into prominence and placed this school of philosophy on a high pedestal.