The University of Nalanda c11.96

c11.96

Śāntideva, according to this writer, was the son of King Mañjuvarman. His mother, seeing him disgusted with worldly life, told him that a king, a painter and a poet do not go to heaven. She, therefore, advised him to go to Buddha Bodhisattva-deśa Śrī Mañjuvajrādhisthāna (that is, the country of Buddha and Bodhisattvas, the abode of Śrī Mañjuvajra). On the way he came across a girl who took him to her guru Siddha Śrī Mañjuvajrasamādhi. This Siddha Puruṣa told him that he should go to Madhyadeśa (Central India) to the king of Magadha, after having realized Mañjuvajra and after having obtained knowledge of Mañjuśrī from him in 12 years.