Aśvaghoṣa

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Part of a series on Buddhism
History
Timeline· Buddhist councils
Foundations
Four Noble Truths Noble Eightfold Path Buddhist Precepts Nirvana · Three Jewels
Key Concepts
Three marks of existence Skandha · Cosmology Samsara · Rebirth · Dharma Dependent Origination · Karma
Major Figures
Gautama Buddha Disciples · Later Buddhists
Practices and Attainment
Buddhahood · Bodhisattva Four Stages of Enlightenment Paramitas · Meditation · Laity
Countries/Regions
Bhutan · Cambodia · China India · Indonesia · Japan Korea · Laos · Malaysia Mongolia · Myanmar · Nepal Russia· Singapore · Sri Lanka Thailand · Tibet · Vietnam Western countries
Branches
Theravāda · Mahāyāna Vajrayāna Early and Pre-sectarian
Texts
Pali Canon · Mahayana Sutras Tibetan Canon
Comparative Studies Culture · List of topics Portal: Buddhism
This box: view • talk • edit

Aśvaghoṣa (?80-?150 CE) (Devanagari: अश्वघोष) was an Indian philosopher-poet, born in Saketa in northern India. He is believed to have been the first Sanskrit dramatist, and is considered the greatest Indian poet after Kālidāsa.

He was first a student of non-Buddhist teaching, but upon losing an argument with Parshva converted to Buddhism. He became a religious adviser to the Kushan king Kanishka.

He is said to be the author of the influential Buddhist text Awakening of Faith in the Mahayana. He also wrote an epic life of the Buddha called Buddhacarita^[1] (Acts of the Buddha) in Sanskrit and the Mahalankara (Book of Glory). He also wrote Saundaranandakavya, a kavya poem with the theme of conversion of Nanda, Buddha’s half-brother, so that he might reach salvation. The first half of the work describes Nanda’s life, and the second half of the work describes Buddhist doctrines and ascetic practices.^[2]

[edit] References