The University of Nalanda c11.109

c11.109

The most important phase of his life is his visit to Tibet. He had the distinction of being the first pandit who was officially invited to Tibet by King Khri-son-den-tsan. His presence in Tibet, as we are told by Das,³ was not well received by the gods and demigods. These caused a great damage by making the rivers flow, etc. So Śāntarakṣita was sent to Nepal. After a time, the king again sent messengers to call him back. This time Śāntarakṣita advised the king to send for Padmasaṃbhava—a pandit of Nālandā—and a great Tāntric scholar; the latter by his magic powers could control and quiet the gods and spirits. Padmasaṃbhava arrived and did what was expected of him. Then, in A.D. 749, Śāntarakṣita and Padmasaṃbhava erected a monastery after the model of the monastery of Odantapuri. Śāntarakṣita had the honour of being the first abbot of this new monastery called "Samye". For thirteen years he worked in the cause of the propagation of Buddhism in Tibet and finally laid his life at its altar in the year 762 A.D.