Bodhisena

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Bodhisena (Sanskrit बोधिसेन Chinese and Japanese 菩提僊那, 704-760, born Brahmin in India) was a Buddhist scholar and monk.

[edit] Overview

He visited Japan, on the invitation of Emperor Shōmu, to spread the use of Sanskrit and establish Huayan Buddhism in the country. His trip to Japan had started in 723, via the region which is now in Cambodia and Vietnam. He arrived in August 736. In 752, Emperor Shōmu asked him to perform the eye-opening of the Great Buddha built in Tōdai-ji.

After his visit to Mount Tomi (Nara), Bodhisena petitioned the emperor to name the prayers' hall there Ryōsen-ji (霊山寺, Ryōsen-ji^?), as he found the place ti strongly resemble the mountain in India where Buddha preached, known as Vulture Peak, or Ryoujusen (霊鷲山) in Japanese.

Bodhisena resided in Daian-ji (大安寺) in Heijō-kyō for the rest of his life. He died on February 25, 760 at Daian-ji temple, and was buried on the Ryoujusen (霊鷲山) mountain, following his wish when he died.